More celebrities open up about mental health
By Rachel O'Rourke
Over the past few years, many celebrities have opened up about having suffered with a mental illness. Comedienne Ruby Wax, Labour’s former communications aide Alistair Campbell, former boxer Frank Bruno, singer Britney Spears, and actresses Demi Lovato and Catherine Zeta Jones, to name but a few. Some were 'outed in the media' while others discussed their issues of their own free-will.
"The subject begs the question, is it becoming easier to talk about mental health? And do celebrity 'revelations' help further the understanding of mental illness, rather than harm?"
Gail Porter
Recently 41-year-old former TV Presenter Gail Porter has hit the headlines again as her battle with mental illness continues. Gail’s ten-year struggle - including post-natal depression, bipolar disorder and anorexia - has been openly documented in the media after she hit our television screens in the 1990s for programmes such as Top of the Pops and Live and Kicking.
It has been confirmed that the Scottish mother-of-one was sectioned under the Mental Health Act for the second time, in what has been described by former husband Dan Hipgrave as her “last chance” to recover.
Hipgrave, member of British band Toploader who split from Porter in 2004, told The Sun newspaper that Porter needed to put a picture of their daughter Honey on her bedroom wall in order to “get through” the rehabilitation taking place in South Africa – away from friends and without mobile phone access.
He told the national daily that he had “no doubt” that Porter could get healthy and revive her career, but added that she “doesn’t have many more chances left”.
Last year, single-mother Porter - who was once famously projected bare-bottomed onto the Houses of Commons - was sectioned for the first time for harbouring suicidal thoughts. She spent 28-days under section, receiving medication and treatment at England’s Grove Clinic.
Porter previously told reporters that she was scared she would never come out of “a place like that” and that she had lost all concept of how long she had been in there for. She also said she was “determined” to beat depression for the sake of her nine-year-old daughter, Honey.
She has always been open about her mental health issues, which have affected her throughout her adult life and have contributed to her alopecia and alcohol addiction. Following the birth of Honey in 2003, she was diagnosed with post-natal depression and later in 2005 with bipolar disorder her marriage to Hipgrave broke-down.
In the same year, she had her stomach pumped following a suicide attempt using pills, which she described as her “cry out for help”. In her memoirs, My Story Of Love Fame And Survival, she describes her battle with self-harming, which has left her in hospital several times.
Bruce Springstein and Darcey Bussell
Last month, two more cases of mental illness in the celebrity world came to light; that of world renowned singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and celebrated British Royal Ballet ballerina and judge on Strictly Come Dancing, Darcey Bussell.
Springsteen, 62, told The New Yorker that he has been in therapy for 30 years, and felt ‘suicidal’ whilst recording hit album Nebraska in 1982; despite his millions of fans and huge fortune.
Springsteen’s long-term analysis was necessary for change and “a desire for renewal,” he has said. The singer, famous for songs Dancing In The Dark and Born To Run, said that the therapy helped him to “transform” and overcome his self-loathing.
Bussell also revealed she had suffered from depression following her retirement as a ballerina six years ago. The 43-year-old writes in her new biography that, following giving up work, the break from her tough schedule left her ‘feeling down’.
Mother-of-two, Bussell pretended that the “low moments” were only few and far between as that helped her to “get on with life”, but that it eventually left her depressed.
Catherine Zeta Jones
Last year, Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones openly discussed her bipolar disorder after news leaked from the clinic she was seeking treatment in.
Her husband Michael Douglas, 66, told the Oprah Winfrey Show: “Catherine's being quite open about it because she was outed, you know. She went to go get some help and some other patient probably in there said, 'hey, you won't believe who's in here now?' And, so, once that happens, I think she felt [it] best to get out the story."
Is it easier to discuss mental illness now?
There are many famous faces throughout history who are documented to have mental health problems; Churchill, Florence Nightingale, Maralyn Monroe, but is it getting easier to talk about it? Or, is it that the media has more power, more presence than ever before, making it harder for people to hide?
We at Mental Healthy hope the former is true, that as the subject gets better coverage and understanding, more people from all walks of life are finding it easier to talk about.
Mental health ambassadors
Despite the media’s often intrusive attitude towards a celebrity’s illness, the subjects of the intrusion have often gone on to become ambassadors for mental health, bringing hope of recovery to many. Ruby Wax described herself as the “poster girl” of mental health after admitting her struggle with depression, and went on to produce a show as well as a TV documentary on the subject to raise awareness.
MP Kevan Jones admitted to his Commons’ colleagues of his battle with mental illness, urging them to do more to help those suffering in the UK. TV presenter Stephen Fry continues to support an array of mental health charities after he was also diagnosed bipolar.
So while these celebrities deserve help and support without the media attention, sometimes it can shine light on serious issues that are often under-discussed. Sadly, it still begs the question as to whether the representations or experiences of these celebrities aids or misrepresents mental illness? We would be interested in hearing your thoughs, while our warmest wishes go out to Gail and her family, and the rest of our celebrity 'sufferers'.
