Selena Gomez Speaks Out: "Being Vocal About Mental Health Matters"

Selena Gomez reaffirmed her support for mental health advocacy by saying "It matters to be vocal about issues that matter to you" during a recent Billboard Español interview in preparation for her 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music award. The 32-year-old singer, who came out about her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2020, said speaking about her challenges was at first "scary" but had to be done to "help others" and change the public discourse around mental health.

Gomez, who presents the annual Rare Beauty Mental Health Summit and created the Rare Impact Fund (giving 1% of Rare Beauty proceeds to mental health efforts), called vulnerability "not for the faint of heart" because there is sure to be criticism. She remembered worrying that she'd come across as a "victim" when she first spoke about her panic attacks, depression, and 2016 psychiatric hospitalization, which she chronicled in her 2022 Apple TV+ movie "My Mind & Me.".

The Grammy-nominated artist credits dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and medication for her progress, calling her diagnosis a turning point: “I got the answers I’d been desperate for… I’m less afraid now.” She also limits social media use to protect her wellbeing, having previously called Instagram “consuming” and “addictive.”

With her advocacy, Gomez seeks to "expand mental health resources for underserved communities", a mission emphasized in her December 2024 Academy Women's Luncheon address. "When we come together, we make a real difference," she insisted, emphasizing her faith in unity over silence.