Celebrities Have The Ability To Influence Masses, And They Are Channelising This Energy To Spread A Word About Mental Health.
Celebrities And Their Moves
Celebrities and influencers are among the most loved and highly regarded people on this planet. People find their role models in them. These celebs have a unique ability to influence people through their actions. We have seen this in the companies’ marketing tactics, which often harness the fan-following of these celebrities to sell their products. Despite their strong and wide reach, and the ability to transform the lives of those who follow them, the actions of these celebs are always questioned. Whether it is the promotion of any product or spreading awareness about mental health, their actions are least welcomed.
Despite all the negativity surrounding the celebrity moves, it seems like there is another side of the coin. The celebrity self-disclosure of mental illnesses has a vital role in shaping society and eradicating the stigma around it. Because of the rapidly changing cultural revolution, the popular lifestyle culture has gained the power to influence us and others. Several papers and case studies have been published around this hot topic, proving the positive impact of such moves of these celebrities. This article focuses on the second side of the coin, the positivity hidden in the celebrity self-disclosures.
Changed Attitude And Reduced Stigma Around Mental Health
It’s quite anticipated that if every person knew someone with a mental illness, stigma would decrease. People would open up easily. These celebrities do the same, by talking about their personal stories and experiences. More individuals in the spotlight like – professional athletes, authors, musicians, or social influencers, are opening up and disclosing their mental illnesses and experiences with seeking treatment. Their steps are to encourage their followers and fans to break the taboo, come forward, talk about their illnesses, and seek help.
One of the most effective anti-stigma agents is a face-to-face experience with a person’s story of lived experience. These moves are helping the people, may it be in small ways – one fan at a time, but things are getting easier in the complex world we live in. People can relate to their stories and this relatability is proving to be the catalyst in the movement of spreading mental health awareness.
Behavioral Changes
There is a study proving the increase in the rate of people coming forward, and seeking help after celebrity self-disclosures started happening publicly. One such example is the Diana effect. There was a spike in people reporting eating disorders after Diana opened up about her bulimia nervosa. Psychologists and the press called it the “Diana effect.” There are several other instances where such incidents have increased the number of people, feeling comfortable in sharing their stories and visiting the experts, and getting help. What are your experiences? Did you ever feel like talking about your struggles after some celeb has talked about it?
