Opening up about her mental health journey was one of the toughest things Selena Gomez has ever done — but she did it because it’s something she believes is important for everyone.
In a recent interview with Billboard Español on Thursday, April 24, Gomez shared why she thinks it’s essential to keep talking about mental health.
“At the end of the day, I believe it matters to be vocal about issues that matter to you, whether you are famous or not,” said Gomez, who is set to be honored as Woman of the Year at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music event on May 1.
But it wasn’t easy. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” she admitted. “You are putting yourself out there, and trust me, there will be a lot of opinions that come at you just for having the courage to say anything at all.”
Gomez, known for hits like “Lose You to Love Me,” explained that being vulnerable was hard. “It was scary to be that vulnerable, and I didn’t ever want anyone to think I am a victim,” she said. Despite the fear, she wanted to help others.
“By sharing my story, I thought I could make a difference. And I’ll take any negative opinions because I see the bigger picture of how conversations about mental health have changed.”
In fact, Gomez has been a huge advocate for mental health. She hosted her third annual Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit last May and, in October 2023, held her first annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit to raise money for youth mental health programs.
During the event, she opened up about how her mental health struggles led her to become so passionate about helping others. “I struggled with the world inside my head for a long time,” she revealed. “I felt lost and hopeless at times. In 2020, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And honestly, everything changed after that.”
Gomez said getting that diagnosis gave her the answers she had been searching for. “I finally got the knowledge and the answers I had been desperate for,” she shared. “Understanding that has helped me become more aware and less afraid than I used to be.”
Her 2022 documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, gave fans a deeper look at her personal journey with mental health, showcasing both the struggles and the triumphs along the way.
Related topics:
