A life filled with excessively bright lights, red carpets, and wealth beyond comprehension; celebrities seem like they have it all. However, behind the scenes, there is fangirl rage, and mass pressure from the public—leading to a plethora of mental health problems. With so many celebrities having mental health problems, is fame worth the cost of losing their minds?
According to The Guardian, 60% of actors and 90% of rock singers experience anxiety. The PCI Center explains that coping with irregular employment hours, inconsistent sleep routines, and constant privacy breaches, which are commonplace in the lives of celebrities, creates massive stress. Celebrities may deal with heavy criticism from fans and even pressure when it comes to their line of work. This constant criticism can become a source of anxiety and all-around unhappiness.
“Being a celebrity seems so dystopian; I cannot imagine having everyone watching me at all times, the weirdness of it all,” junior Paula De Jesus said. “The celebrity lifestyle would be too much for me, and my mental health would probably be so bad.”
Recently, more and more celebrities are coming clean about their mental health issues. Producers, managers, and celebrities work hard to set high public imagery standards, often ensuring no one knows about poor mental health or anything that may tarnish their image, so it’s shocking for many to see such exposure. Celebrities like Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga encourage discussing mental health—they explain that talking about it forces the public to be more aware and help other celebrities and individuals who may be hurting as well. Lady Gaga says that even if being a celebrity can cause stress, doing what one is good at and receiving appreciation for it can also be rewarding.
Mental Health With Celebrities by Natalia Klonowski
Another study from the PCI Center recommends that celebrities be wary of what they share with their fans. They suggest keeping their mental health problems to themselves and protecting themselves from the public eye. Despite fame proving to create mental health issues, many people still think it’s worth it. Three in every ten people want to be famous. It seems that many people fail to realize that being famous can harm minds and amount to too much pressure.
On the other hand, celebrities are lucky to have privileges when it comes to access to mental health resources. Regular overworked people who may also struggle with working hours and criticism are not felt bad for as much as a celebrity.
“I’m not a celebrity but I would say I’m an influencer, and even I understand the stress of being famous,” communications teacher Henry Evans said. “There is a lot that comes with being idolized. To me though, the stress and judgment are worth it. I love the idea of being a celebrity and I would just figure out how to deal with mental health issues.”
Even if people think it’s worth it, fans see these mental health issues bring celebrities to such extreme situations, including death. For example, Liam Payne’s death. The price of his fame led to his suicide ideation and substance abuse. It’s not just Liam Payne, but many other celebrities who struggle with the unexpected reality of being a celebrity.
“His death was unexpected and sad; when I was younger I always listened to him,” Evans said. “I know celebrities deal with a lot, but that’s what they sign up for. It’s just known that mental health issues will be created with that type of life.”
Celebrities have to deal with social and emotional pressures. For now, Mental Health Solutions suggests raising awareness of celebrities’ issues and never ignoring what they may be going through just because they are famous. While the glamor and shine of a celebrity are enviable, there are many aspects of their career that are not as perfect as they appear to be.
