BBC Radio 1 has launched a new campaign called 'My Mind & Me', running throughout 2017, to encourage young people to discuss mental health issues openly. The initiative aims to cover topics from exam stress and self-esteem to anxiety and depression, helping to break the stigma surrounding these conditions.
Several high-profile celebrities have shared their own battles with mental health in recent months. Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander appeared on Radio 1's The Surgery to speak about his experiences with bulimia, anxiety and depression. Meanwhile, former One Direction star Zayn Malik publicly cancelled a performance at the Capital Summertime Ball in 2016 due to severe anxiety. In an Instagram post, he described it as 'the worst anxiety of my career', and later told ES magazine that speaking out helps others understand that mental health issues can affect anyone regardless of success.
Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall opened up about her teenage battle with anorexia in the group's book 'Our World'. She recalled feeling 'so depressed' that she wanted to 'waste away', and that doctors warned her she could die if she continued. Selena Gomez, who also suffers from lupus, took a three-month break from social media to seek treatment for anxiety, panic attacks and depression. At the 2016 American Music Awards, she told fans: 'If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken.'
Miley Cyrus revealed to Elle magazine in 2014 that depression stemmed from insecurities over her skin, leading her to lock herself in her room. She emphasised the importance of speaking out to help fans feel understood. Justin Bieber also cited mental exhaustion as a reason for ending meet and greets, writing on Instagram that the pressure was 'so much for me to handle'.
