Celebrities have entered the chat. Today, it’s common to see a celebrity launch a cookbook, skin care or beauty product line or clothing company. The latest popular space for celebrities to venture into? Mental health. Or, more specifically, celebrity mental health support organizations. So, would you trust a celebrity therapy app? Let’s look at what kind of mental health care support famous people are bringing to the masses.
Existing Celebrity Mental Health Support Today
In recent years, there have been several mental health initiatives undertaken by celebrities:
- Rapper Megan Thee Stallion launched a mental health wellness site with free resources, text lines and therapist directories for the Black community and LGBTQ+ people of color. The site, Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too, is named after a lyric in her song “Anxiety.”
- Colombian singer J Balvin now has a wellness app called Oye. The app is available in Spanish and English and provides daily wellness practices that help people stay positive and happy.
- Popstar Selena Gomez launched a free mental health platform with educational resources called Wondermind.
In addition to celebrity-owned and -initiated mental health platforms, celebrities have started to partner with existing mental health apps. For example, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Michael Phelps and Harry Styles have all partnered with mental health apps such as BetterHelp, Calm and Headspace.
Why the Sudden Interest From Celebrities in the Mental Health and Wellness Space?
Celebrities may seem like elusive, perfect godlike creatures, but they’re as human as the rest of us. And they’re just as susceptible to mental health problems.
Almost every famous person who’s launched their own celebrity mental health support platform has done so because of personal struggles.
Megan Thee Stallion created her platform because she knows what it’s like to go through mental health struggles. The rapper lost her dad when she was 9 and her mother in 2019. After experiencing that much loss, she knew she needed help and now wants to spread the message that “it’s okay to ask for help.”
Similarly, Selena Gomez has had many mental health struggles over the years. The famous pop singer has dealt with anxiety, panic attacks, depression and bipolar disorder. These experiences have inspired her to launch her own app to help end the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
Following this trend, J Balvin started his mental health platform thanks to his own experiences with mental health conditions. He also has the significant goal of ending the stigma surrounding mental health problems in the Latin community and showing that getting professional help is okay.
The Benefit of Celebrity Advocacy in the Mental Health Space
When a celebrity starts a skin care or clothing line, they’re not doing something revolutionary so much as adding to the other standard options out there. But when it comes to mental health and wellness initiatives, their input can make a real difference.
Launching these apps is a form of advocacy work. Celebrities heading these initiatives are making a real effort to raise awareness about mental health and addiction.
Famous people have a lot of influence and reach. When they share their mental health struggles, they help thousands of people to understand that it’s normal to struggle with mental health and that getting help is okay. Most notably, celebrities tend to have the most influence over younger people. If pop stars can speak up and show younger people the importance of monitoring their mental well-being, it can enact significant change in the younger generations.
Celebrity-backed platforms in the mental health sphere are most impressive when they’re a free resource. This shows they’re trying to help others and not looking to profit from their work.
Should You Use a Celebrity Mental Health Platform?
So, the last question is whether celebrity mental health support is your best option. It’s important to know that there are many platforms out there that aren’t backed by famous people but are still fantastic options. Ultimately, a celebrity owning a platform shouldn’t be your sole reason for choosing it.
Instead, evaluate the celebrity-owned platform as you would any other. Eliminate that your favorite rapper or singer owns it from the decision-making process. Instead, ask yourself these essential questions:
- Is the platform free? If not, is it a price I can afford and am willing to pay?
- Is the platform easily accessible?
- Does the platform provide resources and services I need?
- Does the platform cater to a specific group? If so, am I part of that group?
- Does the platform have good reviews?
- Does the platform work with certified, licensed and trusted professionals and resources?
It’s great to want to support Megan Thee Stallion or Selena Gomez, but you shouldn’t use their mental health platforms if they’re not a good fit. You can always support them by listening to their music instead.
Plus, that’s not what these celebrities want! They made these platforms as a resource for people who can benefit from them — if they’re not quite right for you, looking elsewhere for help is okay.
You might find these platforms are a good fit to use in conjunction with something else. You might go to Megan’s site to find free helpful resources, for example, but when it comes to finding a therapist or support group, you may want to look elsewhere.
A Welcome Change
It’s refreshing to see celebrities use their influence to do some good. Famous people launching free, supportive platforms that offer mental health support is an excellent initiative. And hopefully, these celebrities will continue to shine a light on how common mental health conditions are and how important seeking help is.
When a Platform Isn’t Enough, Sunlight Recovery Can Help
Sometimes, we need much more help than just some free online resources. If you’re struggling with your mental health, know that professional treatment can help you return to a happy, fulfilled life. At Sunlight Recovery, we understand how to help work through all kinds of mental health conditions. Contact us today and find out how we can help you get back on track.