Celebrities stepping away from spotlight to improve mental health
Young celebrities are taking a break from the glitz and glamour in favour of their health. Stars who started off young like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Zayn Malik took time off to concentrate on their mental health — they’re not the only ones.
When pop sensation Justin Bieber announced in March he was taking a break, many of his fans around the world were confused.
The 23-year-old was undoubtedly in the middle of one of the most successful phases of his career, with plenty of chart-topping hits and successful albums to his name. But Bieber said there was something more important than the fame and fortune — and that was his mental health.
“I’ve toured my whole teenage life and early 20s. I realised and you guys probably saw I was unhappy last tour and I don’t deserve that and you don’t deserve that,” the star reasoned over what seemed, to some people, an impulsive career move.
“I am now very focused on repairing some of the deep-rooted issues that I have, as most of us have, so that I don’t fall apart.”
Industry experts say Bieber is just the latest addition to a lengthy list of stars who are realising they need to put their own needs first.
The I’m The One singer has joined the likes of Selena Gomez, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry and Britney Spears who have openly spoken about the challenges of mental health and taken time off from their careers to address them.
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In an industry in which out of sight often means out of mind, experts say things are now changing.
Psychologist Janine Rod says Hollywood is recognising that we need to prioritise mental health.
“The world has become more aware of mental health. People, including celebrities, are more aware of their health and are more outspoken,” she tells BW Magazine.
“Today, people have a healthier perspective about work. They are learning to put the brakes on work when needed.
“Celebrities set an example. People consider them to be the beacons of perfection and so people think, ‘If they can do it, then I can do it too’.”
In an environment in which paparazzi watch your every move, audiences scrutinise every decision and billions of dollars are at stake, mental health struggles are high.
The 2015 Australian Actors’ Wellbeing Study found performers are twice as likely to suffer from depression as the general population.
More than a quarter reported they experience debilitating performance anxiety while more than 40 per cent said that work-related stress took a toll on their personal relationships.
Rod says slowly but surely, Hollywood’s hustle culture of constantly working is changing.
“(Young stars) are saying ‘I don’t need to devote my whole life to work’. There’s definitely a shift in what we think about work,” she says.
Rod is right. Much of the mental health movement has been driven by stars who came to fame at a young age like Bieber.
In 2016, on the back of her Revival World Tour, Gomez announced she was taking a break to deal with the side-effects of suffering from auto-immune disease lupus.
“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,” she said at the time.
“I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side-effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.”
The year prior, tattooed heart-throb Zayn Malik took a break from his fledging career as one-fifth of One Direction, citing a need to step away from the limelight.
“I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down but I have to do what is right in my heart,” he said at the time.
“I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of a spotlight.”
Malik went on to pursue a solo career after time away and has been candid about his struggles with anxiety. He was recently spotted at the premiere of the movie Aladdin, after more than a year away from any red carpet appearances.
Talent agency Chic Management director Kathy Ward says that the risk of burning out is much higher among stars like Gomez and Malik, who started their careers as children or teenagers.
“Some people don’t need a break but a lot of stars who started out at a young age struggle to cope with the pressures,” she explains.
“We are huge advocates for not rushing the process. The girls who finish school, even do a bit of part-time education, are better at dealing with the pressures.”
Ward says the industry has certainly reformed its view towards career breaks and, if you have talent, companies are willing to wait it out.
“It’s a different world we live in these days. If a talent is special then clients are very supportive and accepting of time off,” she says.
“We really endorse that stars look after themselves. Sometimes its good to take a break and come back rejuvenated and do better.”
Workplace mental health expert Robyn Jones say that the actions of the stars in taking time out are encouraging normal everyday Aussies to also prioritise their mental health and wellbeing.
“I think a lot more people are taking career breaks now and most people’s career trajectory is changing,” she says.
“All industries are becoming more accepting. The whole conversation about mental health is a lot more open.”
RMIT University Hollywood expert Glen Donnar says a career break can be a blessing in disguise for some stars.
“There are different types of breaks. Some people might close down social media completely whereas others may take a break from parts of their careers,” he says.
“But stars can still remain relevant by even sharing the details of their break. Now, there is an actual announcement instead of people just slipping away.
“Because of social media there is a lot of visibility around who is taking time off.”
Donar says making it clear that the break is temporary can help build anticipation for the comeback.
“When Emma Watson took time out to study it was a case of stepping away from particular aspects of the career to focus on who they are,” he says. “This (journey of finding yourself) can become a part of your public persona. It creates an anticipation around your return. It draws a lot of attention to say ‘I don’t want anyone looking at me’.”
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