Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 49% of people—yes, almost half—who have felt symptoms of depression and anxiety never seek medical help. In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental-health problem, and by age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.

So why aren’t we talking about this more? The taboo around speaking openly about mental illness still exists, although campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk and Opening Minds (established by the Mental Heath Commission of Canada) are working to eradicate it.

Celebs who get candid about their own mental-health struggles also help chip away at the stigma. From Meghan Markle talking about the toll of media scrutiny on her mental-health to Kanye West opening up about being diagnosed as bipolar, here are the figures who have shared their own deeply personal experiences in the name of raising awareness, eliminating stigma and helping us all feel a little less alone.

Celebrities speaking out about mental health

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Madison Beer

On August 26, Madison Beer told fans that she is “officially one year clean of self harm.” In a series of Instagram stories, the singer shared an image of a calendar note marking the anniversary, writing: “I never thought i’d be able to say this & i am so proud of myself. it has been an uphill battle, so whether you might b [sic] one day, one week, one month, or one year clean — i’m so proud of you.”

Beer went on to reveal that very few people knew she was struggling. “i hid not only my self harm, but my pain from the world,” before encouraging her followers to “not ignore the signs if you think someone you know might be struggling,” she wrote. 

“Reach out to your friends. u truly never know what goes on behind closed doors,” she continued. “if you are struggling at all, please please know it does get better and you are valid and worthy of love and i believe in you.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566, find a 24/7 Crisis Centre via the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention or reach out to a resource in your province:

British Columbia: Province-Wide Mental Health Support Line (24/7 hotline: 310-6789) | Alberta: Distress Centre Calgary (24/7 hotline: 403-266-4357) | Saskatchewan: Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit (24/7 hotline: 306-764-1011) | Manitoba: Manitoba Reason to Live (24/7 hotline: 1-877-435-7170) | Ontario: Connex Ontario (24/7 hotline: 1-866-531-2600) | Quebec: The Quebec Association for Suicide Prevention (24/7 hotline: 866-277-3553) | New Brunswick: Chimo Helpline (24/7 hotline: 450-4357) | Nova Scotia: Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (24/7 hotline: 1-888-429-8167) | Prince Edward Island: Island Helpline (24/7 hotline: 1-800-218-2885) | Newfoundland: Mental Health Crisis Line (24/7 hotline: 1-888-737-4668) | Northwest Territories: NWT Help Line (24/7 hotline: 1-800-661-0844)

Read this next: My Mental Health Issues Are Helping Me Through Self-Isolation

The post Madison Beer Marks One Year of No Self-Harm appeared first on FLARE.