Demi Lovato wants to erase the stigma around mental health.
The 22-year-old singer, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder five years ago, has teamed up with five mental health organizations to launch a new campaign “Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health” to gain awareness for those suffering with mental health illnesses.
According to Fox News, Lovato will be working with Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The JED foundation, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Behavioral Health to encourage people living with mental health conditions to “speak up in their community to help advance mental health care.”
Lovato wants to use her fame to help reach out to those who need help the most.
“I have a younger, young adult fan base, and so yes, it will reach a lot of younger people,” she explained. “But I’ve also had some of my fans’ parents tell me and confide in me, or even people who don’t have young kids, they’ve told me that my book has helped them, or speaking out has really helped them as well,” Lovato said.
The pop star is thankful for those who supported her after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and maintaining her sobriety. She took to Instagram to share a sweet black-and-white picture with her longtime manager Phil McIntrye to thank him for all he has done for her.
“This man not only believed in me when I was 15 and made my entire career happen, but he fought so f----ing hard to get me sober,” she wrote. “When so many others had given up on me, he never did.”
Image via Instagram from Demi Lovato
Image courtesy of Roger Wong/INFphoto.com