A PSA from Demi Lovato: You’re Using the Term “Bipolar” Wrong
Demi Lovato may not be the most PC celeb on the planet (see: her latest social media mix-up and her apology regarding a joke about the Zika virus), but when it comes to mental health, girl is NOT messing around.
In a recent interview with Marie Claire, the pop star not only spoke on why it’s so important to speak out about the topic, but called out those who aren’t particularly sensitive to those with mental conditions.
“I get frustrated when people use the term ‘bipolar’ loosely,” she said. “Like, they say, ‘Oh, I can’t decide what movie to watch, I’m so bipolar.’ You don’t’ say, ‘I can’t decide what movie to watch, I’m so cancer.’”
Lovato, who has faced plenty of public struggles with her own mental health and has been diagnosed with the disease herself, also resents the assumption that everyone with metal health issues is violent. Despite the fact that Lovato herself has been guilty of striking her own backup dancer in years past (an act for which she took full responsibility), she wants people to know that for the majority, that’s not the case. “It’s important to remember that the vast majority of people living with mental health conditions aren’t violent,” she told the mag. “They’re [actually] 10 times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime.”
It’s that very stigma that Lovato says prevents those that are struggling from speaking up — herself included. “I had my parents and I had my friends who were very supportive,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, I kept a lot of things to myself, so the outcome wasn’t as beneficial to me as it could have been. That’s why it’s so important to be vocal about what you’re dealing with — you never know the life you could live if you’re sharing your experiences with others.”
It’s the exact reason that the mental health advocate executive produced Be Vocal, a documentary that takes a closer look at three different people living with the mental illnesses of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. “When you spread awareness and create conversation, that’s when you realize mental health conditions aren’t anything out of the norm. They’re very common,” she told MC.
It’s also the reason she admires Kate Middleton so very much. “It’s incredible what Kate Middleton is doing,” she said, referring to the Duchesses’ work with charities such as Place2B. “If we had more people doing that, maybe there would be less stigma in the United States.”
Watch Demi’s documentary here.
What’s your take on Demi’s mental health stance? Share with us @BritandCo.
(h/t Marie Claire, photos via Pascal le Segretain + Jesse Grant/Getty)
