Selena Gomez Says She Hopes Talking About Mental Health Struggles Starts a 'Conversation' That Leads to 'Healing'

The 'Only Murders in the Building' star has been open about her bipolar disorder diagnosis

For Selena Gomez, transparency with her fans is key. That’s why she’s long been open about her mental health struggles, which include a bipolar diagnosis that she first revealed in 2020.

Though she never expected to have the reach she does now, as an actress, singer and Rare Beauty makeup mogul, Gomez recognizes that she has a platform when it comes to helping fans understand their own mental health hurdles — and she’s going to use it.

“When I was younger, I thought I could save the world. It breaks my heart to hear a girl come up to me and say, ‘I was so close to taking my life, but when I watched your documentary, I couldn’t imagine doing that anymore,’” the star, 31, said in a new interview with Fast Company. “That’s the coolest gift, but yeah, look at me… It’s crazy to have that responsibility.”

That documentary, of course, was Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, which premiered last year and offered fans an intimate unpacking of both her triumphs and her setbacks when it came to mental health. In addition to her bipolar diagnosis, Gomez also suffers from lupus, and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.

Related: Selena Gomez to Host First Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit for Mental Health This Fall (Exclusive)

“I wanted there to be a conversation started. I wasn’t ashamed, and I wanted it to lead to something healing,” she told Fast Company.

The Only Murders in the Building star, who rose to fame as a child star first on Barney & Friends and then as a teen on Disney Channel, told the outlet that she grew up being a “people pleaser,” and struggled when she was younger with the fact that young viewers looked to her as a role model.

“I didn’t know who I was. Having that responsibility would make me walk on eggshells a lot,” she said. “I thought maybe it would be damaging to tell people who I am. It started to become a threat that freaked me out. Well, if you’re not right, then you can’t work.”

Over time, though, and after a “really hard season” of life, Gomez found relief in her bipolar diagnosis, and is now content to take breaks as needed in order to preserve her mental health.

Related: Selena Gomez Joins Chris Martin on Stage to Sing 'Let Somebody Go' at Coldplay Show in Pasadena

“I’ve never promised anyone that I’ll never have a bad day again. I’ve always been honest with my fans. Even when I take breaks from social media, I’ll say I’m taking a break.”

Since launching Rare Beauty three years ago, Gomez has made it the company’s mission to support a number of charities that work to end mental health stigmas through its Rare Impact Fund.

The Fund was launched in 2020 with the goal of raising $100 million to address youth mental health (Rare Beauty donates 1% of sales directly to the fund). It currently supports 23 organizations around the world, and has helped more than 740,000 young people, 10,000 teachers and administrators and 367 educational systems since its inception.

Gomez is set to host the first annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.

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