What We Can Learn From Selena Gomez Opening Up About Mental Illness

Openly discussing mental illness will help reduce stigma.

Danell teNyenhuis Black
Published in
5 min readJan 5, 2021

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Stigma with woodblocks | Credit: Vadzim Kushniarou | iStock (under license)

“I realized that there was a way to get help and to find people that you trust. I got on the right medication, and my life has been completely changed.” Selena Gomez — January 2020 — WSJ Magazine

On New Year’s Eve, an acquaintance, Marianne Miller, made an end of year post. She talked about things happening in her life and how she was affected by the pandemic. Marianne also spoke about a group of friends who helped her realize it was okay to ask for help. She has an extensive support system and is well-liked, but I know it was still hard for her to write the post.

As an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor working toward full licensure, I am very aware of the impact stigma has on individuals with mental illness. I love seeing people have the courage to share their stories.

“It’s ok to seek professional help for your mental health and taking antidepressants isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s loving yourself enough to know that sometimes…

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