Washington [US], April 25: Actress and singer Selena Gomez has once again taken a powerful stand for mental health advocacy, opening up about her personal journey and the importance of using her platform to amplify awareness.
Ahead of being honoured as Woman of the Year at the 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music event on Thursday, May 1, Gomez spoke candidly about the challenges of speaking out on deeply personal issues like 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,” Gomez told People magazine. “It’s not for the faint of heart, because you are putting yourself out there — and trust me, there will be a lot of opinions that come at you for even having the nerve to say anything at all.”
Reflecting on the first time she shared her story, she admitted feeling fearful. “It was scary to be that vulnerable, and I didn’t ever want anyone to think I am a victim,” she said. “I thought by sharing my own story I could help others, and I will take any negative opinions that come with that because I see the bigger picture of how the conversations have changed around mental health.”
Gomez has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, especially for young people. In October 2023, she hosted the first annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit at Nya Studios in Hollywood to support youth mental health organisations.
During the event, she spoke about receiving her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2020, a moment she described as life-changing. “I struggled with the world inside my head for a long time… I felt lost and hopeless at times,” Gomez shared. “And to be honest, everything quickly changed [after my diagnosis]… I actually got the knowledge and the answers that I had been desperate for for so long.”
With her advocacy work, Rare Beauty brand, and Rare Impact Fund, Gomez continues to break stigma and promote mental well-being, proving once again that vulnerability can be a superpower.