Photo of Jonah Hill from a press conference during the 69th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin in 2019.

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You have something in common with the most famous people in the world. Find out what it is at the end of this article.

Celebrities – They’re Just Like Us. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the U.S. experienced mental illness in 2020. That’s more than 20% of people in the country, including famous actors, musicians, athletes and other high-profile people.

Today, mental health is talked about at the kitchen table more than ever before thanks in part to more and more people – especially the famous ones – using social media to create awareness about their own health. Many stars have recently spoken publicly about their experiences ranging from postpartum depression to substance use and panic attacks. Gymnast Simone Biles even withdrew from events in the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health, setting a strong example on a world stage.

Jonah Hill & Others Making News by Talking About Mental Health

Jonah Hill recently made news when he issued a statement to Deadline saying he will no longer promote his work through media appearances or public-facing events due to anxiety attacks he’s experienced for nearly 20 years. Hill directed and stars in “Stutz,” a documentary debuting this fall focused on him, his therapist and mental health in general. 

“The whole purpose of making this film is to give therapy and the tools I’ve learned in therapy to a wide audience for private use through an entertaining film,” Hill said in his statement. “With this letter and with ‘Stutz,’ I’m hoping to make it more normal for people to talk and act on this stuff. So they can take steps towards feeling better and so that the people in their lives might understand their issues more clearly.”

And Hill’s not the only star sharing his well-being story with the public. According to US Magazine,

• Taraji P. Henson has experienced the lows of depression and the mind-racing symptoms of anxiety.
• Joe Jonas says he starts his day by using the app Headspace.
• Emma Thompson has suffered from clinical depression.
• Lizzo combats her stress and anxiety with self-care.
• YouTube star Andrew Rea from the Babish Culinary Universe is very open about his mental health journey.
• Kristen Bell once shared in an interview that she even felt “incredibly irresponsible” for not speaking out about her own experience with mental health sooner.

The list goes on and on.

Normalizing Mental Health & Treatment

Thanks to social media, public figures feel closer and more relatable to us than ever. And it can make a significant impact when they talk about how they manage the ups and downs of their own mental health lives.

When mental health feels like the normal part of life it truly is, it’s easier to see ourselves as deserving support. And when we know others are experiencing something similar to what we’re going through, we’re reminded we’re not alone – even if they’re the ones in the limelight.

So, What Do You Have in Common with Celebrities?

If you didn’t guess it already, here it is:

You all have mental health (we all do, actually) – and you deserve to have the support you need to experience better well-being.

Mental health applies to everyone and it’s just as important as physical health. The more we talk about our mental health, the more we realize we’re not alone.

Now that we know that we all have mental health and we all deserve to feel better, you might be wondering how to do that.

How to Get Help

WellPower is known locally and nationally as a model for innovative and effective community behavioral health care. Call (303) 504-7900 to access services. In addition, if you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, call Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-TALK (8255) to speak to a trained professional, or text TALK to 38255. You can also visit a walk-in center 24/7/365.

And finally, if you’ve been wondering whether therapy might be for you, WellPower’s new TherapyDirect program is a great way of trying it out. No cost, commitment, or appointment required – just virtually walk right in from your phone, laptop, or tablet. Visit wellpower.org/therapydirect to get started.