If you follow celebrity news, you know that Pete Davidson’s mental health has been making headlines for a few years now. The famous comedian and actor checked into a wellness center in June 2024 despite completing a rehab program a year prior.

Let’s take a closer look at Davidson’s history with drugs, his struggles with mental health, and the type of help he’s sought in the past.

Pete Davidson’s Career and Rise to Fame

Peter Davidson showed signs he was destined for fame at an early age. His first experience with comedy was when he was just 16 years old. Encouraged by his friends, who knew he deeply desired to be a comedian, Davidson got on a stand-up stage at a Staten Island bowling alley.

Davidson started his on-screen career with small features, appearing as a guest star on comedy shows, such as Failosphopy, Guy Code and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Davidson finally got his big break with Saturday Night Live, joining in September 2014. He was one of the youngest cast members ever to be cast on the show.

During his stint on SNL, Pete Davidson became a household name and had relationships with major celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale and Kim Kardashian.

Pete Davidson’s Mental Health

Pete Davidson’s mental health has been frequently discussed online and in articles, partially because he’s never shied away from the topic. The young comedian lost his father tragically during the 9/11 bombings. A New York City firefighter, his father was called to duty on the day of the terrorist attacks. Davidson frequently references and jokes about his father’s death in stand-up, but in interviews, he’s more candid about the impact his death has had on him.

In 2017, Davidson told the New York Times that he lost his father when he was just 7 years old, which was “overwhelming,” and the trauma made him act out at school. In another interview, he shared that his father’s death led him to have suicidal thoughts.

Later that same year, he shared an emotional Instagram post stating, “Just wanted to let you guys know I’m okay. I know I’ve kinda been missing on social media and on the show. I quit drugs and am happy and sober for the first time in 8 years.”

Davidson was up-front in public about his marijuana use, but many people didn’t realize that his drug use went beyond that. Pete Davidson’s substance use struggles included an addiction to ketamine, which he took daily for 4 years. He shared with the public that ketamine was “magical” and allowed him to alter his mind and do things, noting, “One time, I got The Wiggles to mesh with Schindler’s List.” But, eventually, he realized he needed to stop. He said, “[You] can’t do drugs in your 30s … it’s not cute anymore.”

How did he get help and kick his drug habits? Well, Pete Davidson’s rehab history is definitely long. He’s confirmed that he’s been in drug rehab in 2016 and 2020. He shared, “There was no way I could stop. I was like, somebody has to put me in a house where there is literally nothing. I had too much access.”

By 2023, he was joking that he had been in rehab seven times. One friend of Davidson’s said, “Pete regularly goes to rehab for ‘tune-ups’ and to take a mental break.”

How Pete Davidson Got the Help He Needed

A December 2017 rehab stay really illuminated Davidson’s mental health status. He initially checked into rehab for his substance abuse problems and believed his daily marijuana use was the reason for his mental health issues, including “blind rages” and “mood swings.”

But just a few months later, he received a diagnosis that provided many answers. His psychiatrist diagnosed him with borderline personality disorder. Once he had the diagnosis and cut out drug use, Davidson was able to focus on his mental health treatment. He shared, “It is working, slowly but surely.”

A few years later, he’d reflect on the monumental diagnosis. “I got diagnosed with BPD a few years ago, and I was always just so confused all the time. [I] just thought something was wrong and didn’t know how to deal with it. Then, when somebody finally tells you, the weight of the world feels lifted off your shoulders. You feel so much better.”

His struggles aren’t entirely behind him. In December 2018, Davidson shared suicidal thoughts on his Instagram page, prompting fans to become incredibly concerned.

Suicidal thoughts and depression are a constant for the comedian. He said once, “I’m always depressed, all the time. I have to constantly bring myself out of it.”

And Davidson isn’t alone in this struggle. The National Institute on Mental Health estimates that 21 million American adults have had at least one depressive episode in their lives.

After a few years of being out of the headlines, the actor checked into rehab in 2023, specifically seeking treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. In 2024, after wrapping up a comedy tour, he again checked into a wellness clinic.

It seems that recently Davidson has gone to rehab for mental health help, and his substance abuse is behind him. Some speculate that these rehabilitation stints aren’t times of crisis but simply the actor taking breaks to focus on his mental health when needed.

The Impact of Davidson’s Candidness

Davidson’s interviews throughout the years paint a clear picture of what this young comedian has been through. His struggles with substance abuse and mental health have taken a real toll on him. However, his openness to his experiences is nothing short of noble.

Every time he shines a light on these issues, he helps normalize them. As a young person whom younger generations look up to, Davidson is helping to end the stigma around mental health. He’s highlighting how crucial it is to seek help and that needing professional treatment more than once is okay.

Get Help at Sunlight Recovery

Let Davidson’s commitment to his well-being inspire you to get help, too. Whether you’re dealing with mental health conditions or substance abuse, a rehabilitation center can help you every step of the way.

Sunlight Recovery has a team of highly experienced and licensed clinical and medical professionals on staff. Contact us today to change your life for the better.