Selena Gomez is continuing to open up about mental health issues. In a new chat with Dr. Vivek Murthy posted to her Rare Beauty’s Instagram Oct. 10, the singer shares how she struggled with depression at the start of the global coronavirus pandemic.
“In the beginning, I couldn’t deal with it that well. I kind of went into a bit of a depression,” the extroverted singer shared with Murthy, who was the surgeon general under President Barack Obama. “And then I started going into a place where I was really writing and being active. I guess it just forced me to have that time.”
“My job is a lot of travel, connecting with people, making people happy, and that makes me happy, so it has been a struggle,” continued the 28-year-old, who noted that the pandemic has allowed her to spend more time with people who are important to her, including her family. But she has found things that make her feel better during this global health crisis.
“Slowly, towards the end, I found thing things I’m doing are coming out, and that was extremely exciting for me. I’ve worked on personal things like a beauty line that has a goal of reaching $100 million in 10 years for mental health,” Gomez shared. “And recently, I’ve been able to go to the studio. So I would say right now, I’m fully coming out again and I just think I had to handle it the way I needed to handle it, and got through it with the right people and doing the right things and doing the right steps to not make me go crazy.”
In May, the singer — who was quarantining with her grandparents and friends in Los Angeles — said that in these challenging times, she thought it was important to be aware of what’s happening, yet give yourself breaks. “I think it’s important to stay informed and be aware of the latest news, but also take breaks from it because it can be overwhelming,” she advised.
Earlier in the year, the “Lose You to Love Me” singer, who has previously been open about her struggles with depression and anxiety, discussed her bipolar diagnosis in a chat with Miley Cyrus for the latter’s Bright Minded Instagram Live series. “I went to one of the best mental hospitals in … America, McClean Hospital, and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar,” Gomez told Cyrus at the time. “And so when I got to know more information, it actually helps me. It doesn’t scare me once I know it.”
Gomez was honored with the 2019 McClean Award for her work in mental health advocacy. Watch her chat with Dr. Murthy below.
If you are anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential referrals and information 24/7.
