In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month 2022, here's what celebs have revealed about their own battles

Mental Health Awareness Month 2022 is here, but there's no reason to ditch self-care practices and trivialize your emotions once the 31st comes around. 

Now more than ever, it's important to be kind to yourself and others. We can all relate to struggling. (Yes, even if your favorite A-Listers.) 

Some celebs have spoken candidly about their own mental health journeys to help others feel a little less isolated. Some have made an effort to incorporate wellness into their careers (take the Selena Gomez mental health platform Wondermind, for example). Then you have entertainers who simply don't want to put up a front. 

Bottom line? We've all faced challenges, and there's no need to feel ashamed. In order to de-stigmatize the negative connotations of anxiety, depression and other mental health-related concerns, have a look at the eye-opening celebrity reveals below. 

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in May in the United States. (Fittingly, May is also when the UK celebrates its own Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year spans from Monday, May 9 through Sunday, May 15.) The month raises awareness about the importance of mental health and the impact that trauma can have on individuals, families and communities. 

Mental Health Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1949 and is commemorated by the community-based nonprofit Mental Health America. The theme of the 2022 Mental Health Awareness Month is "Back to Basics."

"After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being," the Mental Health America website reads. "Our goal is to provide foundational knowledge about mental health & mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern."

Celebs discuss their own mental-health battles:

1. Kendall Jenner

While in conversation with friend and fellow model Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner revealed to Harper's Bazaar that she suffers from panic attacks and particularly struggles with negativity online. ("Is Instagram bad for mental health?" has been the hot topic of conversation as of late.) 

"I have such debilitating anxiety because of everything going on that I literally wake up in the middle of the night with full-on panic attacks," she said. "I wish I had the power to send Cupid around the planet, as cheesy as that sounds. You go online and you see everyone saying the worst things to each other, and it’s hard to stay positive." 

2. Adele

Adele is known for some pretty powerful ballads, and the queen of the breakup song has had to grapple with many emotions, just like the rest of us.  

"I can slip in and out of [depression] quite easily," she revealed to Vanity Fair in 2016. "I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me."

But knowing that Adele and her friends experienced similar sensations, perhaps we'll be more inclined to be open and ask for help going forward. 

"I didn't talk to anyone about it. I was very reluctant," the "Easy on Me" songstress added. "Four of my friends felt the same way I did, and everyone was too embarrassed to talk about it."

3. Miley Cyrus

In an interview with Elle, the singer advocated for therapy and said she wanted to use her platform for change.

"And every person can benefit from talking to somebody. I'm the most anti-medication person, but some people need medicine, and there was a time where I needed some too."

Cyrus continued: "So many people look at [my depression] as me being ungrateful, but that is not it—I can't help it. There's not much that I'm closed off about, and the universe gave me all that so I could help people feel like they don't have to be something they're not or feel like they have to fake happy."

4. Selena Gomez

From addressing mental health with her beauty line to creating her own platform, Selena Gomez has always been vocal about her emotions and struggles. 

According to her platform Wonderkind, which gives readers a safe space to open up and find the appropriate tools, it's all about taking small but mighty steps. 

“To us, mental fitness means creating a routine; working through your feelings to better understand your mind—with the right tools and community to support growth. It means committing to a daily practice, even when you feel out of your comfort zone (which shows it’s working!)," the Wonderkind website revealed.

5. Hailey Bieber

While yes, we love the cool-girl Hailey Bieber Coachella braids and the model's love for skincare, we appreciate how vocal she's been about her physical and mental well-being. 

"You just have to be honest that life sucks sometimes. It's hard," she said in a Glamour interview. "Things are difficult. I just think the more we are open about it, the more we can help people find solutions."

6. Zendaya

All those who are patiently waiting for Euphoria season 3 know that the teen drama series focuses on some pretty sensitive material, and its star Zendaya, our Rue Bennett, is not one to shy away from discussing difficulties.

 “Yeah, of course I go to therapy. I mean, if anybody is able to possess the financial means to go to therapy, I would recommend they do that. I think it’s a beautiful thing," she told British Vogue. 

Zendaya continued: “You know, there’s nothing wrong with working on yourself and dealing with those things with someone who can help you, someone who can talk to you, who’s not your mom or whatever. Who has no bias.”

7. Sydney Sweeney

Speaking of Euphoria, Zendaya's co-star Sydney Sweeney is all about that self-care.

"I think self-care is a daily process. I think you can be OK one day and it's totally OK if you're not the next because I think you have to start every day new and you have to start every day trying to appreciate and love yourself, which can be difficult sometimes. Take one step at a time and try your best and just make sure you love yourself," Sweeney told Yahoo Life. 

8. Rihanna

Yes, even bad gal RiRi gets on edge sometimes. 

"I left the Grammys one time," Rihanna said in a cover story for British Vogue. "Left! In the middle of my hair and make-up. My hair half up, half of my lash on…"

If you were stressed about that project at work, know that even your go-to singer has similar stressors. 

9. Olivia Rodrigo

Mental image doesn't know age, as the "good 4 u" singer can attest. 

"Sometimes people are like, 'Oh, you don't need that. You have so much. Your life is so great. What are your problems?'" Olivia Rodrigo said, according to Seventeen. "I think that's definitely a thing that sometimes older people can do to younger people, too—kind of trivialize what they're going through just because, you know, 'Ah, they're fine, they're just kids. They'll get through it.' But it feels so real when you're in it. It's so valid."

Ways to ease mental health struggles

1. Unplug

"I think one thing we can do to support our mental health is to take time where we're unplugged from our devices," says Jacqueline Nesi, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University. 

"Taking a break from social media and email, for example, can be really powerful for helping us tune in to how we're feeling and to make space for other activities that support mental health, like spending time outside or with family and friends," Nesi said. 

2. Try yoga or meditation

"Taking the time to breathe and gather your thoughts seems obvious but many of us do not take the time to actually do it," DIY Lifestyle Expert and mindful yoga instructor, Samantha Hoff, creator and founder of Pottery with a Purpose. "Taking a breath, and some mindful stretching can do a wonder on your mental stability."

Have a look at the best meditation apps and peruse our go-to yoga accessories to help you destress.

3. Head outdoors

Whether it's a hike or your attempt at fun upcycled garden ideas, a little one-on-one time with Mother Nature can do wonders! 

4. Talk to a non-biased party

Have a read of our guide to therapy vs counseling to see how you can benefit. 

Remember, no matter what you're going through, there are solutions.