“I think more people need to talk about it, a lot of people suffer from mental illness or any kind of anxiety and I think it’s important to talk about it.” - Gold Logie-winning actress Rebecca Gibney.
May is Mental Health Month, and you know what I’d like to do? For each day of the month (well, for each remaining day of the month, as I obviously took the weekend off), I’d like to be able to spotlight one celebrity or famous figure who’s come forward about mental health issues.
And not just celebs and other famous names who’ve come forward about mental health issues, but those who’ve managed (or did manage) to really overcome mental illness in ways that offer hope and inspiration.
Will this actually happen?
Hmm…it might. After all, it’s not like we don’t have quite a few names to work with.
Of course, it might just happen every other day. Or every few days.
(I’m trying to break - or at least lessen - the stranglehold my obsessive nature has on me when it comes to creating optional and overzealous schedules and to-do lists and sticking to them no matter what. If I publicly shout, “I’m going to feature a celebrity every single day of the month! Woohoo!”, you can bet there will be more than a few 3 a.m. blogging sessions to make it happen. Not pretty.)
In the meantime, we can kick things off with Australian actress Rebecca Gibney who has spoken candidly of her childhood with an alcoholic father, her struggle with anxiety, and how it all worked to lead to her emotional collapse a few years ago.
She also won a Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality and a Silver Logie for most popular actress for Packed to the Rafters just last Saturday.
“I’m a great testament to someone who can triumph over a hard childhood.”
Indeed you are, Gibney, and hopefully the troubled times you’ve overcome, and the great successes you’ve experienced since, will be inspirations to many people!
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Good post and good idea for the series of posts.
Maybe consider using Howie Mandel who’s gone public about his ADHD if you’re looking for future material.
@ Pete - Hey Pete! You might not remember, but back in October you provided me with information about Howie Mandel and his public service campaign Adult ADHD Is Real (this was when I wrote at Mental Health Notes - HERE is the post). I’d love to do a piece on him again. Have there been any updates or new things going on with the campaign, do you know?
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