WARNING: The following article mentions depression and suicide, please read with caution.
We’re fooled into believing that the Hollywood lifestyle is all glitz and glamour, but nowadays, more and more celebrities are opening up about their various struggles — be it mental, physical, cultural, or societal. We all remember losing iconic talents like Robin Williams, Heath Ledger, and Amy Winehouse — among others — to the disastrous aftermath of depression, psychosis, and addiction. It’s becoming more apparent that being a household name isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so maybe seeing one’s name in lights isn’t the dream it once was.
We may have lost Mrs. Doubtfire and the Joker, but we won’t be adding X-Men’s Storm to that list, not so long as Alexandra Shipp continues to be totally transparent with her battles. For those who aren’t aware, Shipp starred in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse as the weather-bending mutant known as Storm. On the set, Shipp looked all smiles, but no one could have known how badly she was fighting to stay alive. If only to hammer home the importance of prioritizing one’s mental health, Shipp shared a heartfelt Instagram post, complete with a lengthy caption, to spread awareness of depression and, specifically, bipolar disorder.
Shipp joined in on the popular trend of compiling videos from moments where the subject was at their lowest in life, which often contradicts itself by showing them extremely happy. As is the stigma surrounding mental health, just because someone puts on a happy face, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re happy.
“I suffer from depression. With the help of medication and therapy, I am able to maintain a life of choice. But it’s not always easy. Being bipolar IS NOT EASY,” she wrote.
Shipp recalled her time on the set of X-Men: Apocalypse as a period of great uncertainty and doubt: “At this time, I was struggling with my self-worth. I felt unworthy, not enough, and lonely. I trained to be the best #Storm I could possibly be and was constantly told I wasn’t enough.”
Then, Shipp shared the difficulties associated with being a minority. “As a Black woman in Hollywood, I am consistently compared to and forced to compare myself to others. It’s degrading and can take a toll. So I suffered in silence.”
Not only is Shipp a Black woman, but she also publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in June 2021, although she did not specify a label for herself. Prior to that, Shipp had starred as Abby Suso in the romantic comedy Love, Simon.
As Mental Health Awareness Month (May) comes to an end, let’s be proactive in helping ourselves and others, just as Shipp set out to promote in her heartfelt message.
In July, Shipp will star alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as “Writer Barbie” in 2023’s Barbie movie.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. A list of international crisis resources can be found here.
Published: May 24, 2023 10:19 am