Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd Spotlight Mental Health Truth

People like Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd appear to have it all: money, fame, influence, awards, and loving family members. Yet, as this month's headlines revealed, both came down with mental illnesses. According to the press, both fought their health battles. Sophie is reportedly doing well and recovering (or recovered) from her eating disorder. Naomi tried but lost her battle with the “disease of mental illness,” killing herself by firearm the day before her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Both celebrities remind us that mental health disorders do not discriminate. No matter how successful (or not) you are, if you have a mental disorder, it's a sickness. Like a medical ailment, a mental one often negatively affects your days, moods, moments, interactions, and quality of life. It can also negatively impact or compound physical wellness (or unwellness). Furthermore, similar to medical diseases, some mental illnesses will remit, pass, or heal fully. Others require ongoing management. And still others can be fatal.

When discussing disorders related to emotional, psychological, and social well-being, I prefer to use physical sickness language (e.g., “came down with,” “got”). Why? We often give physical problems more respect and acceptance than psychiatric. For example, a broken leg or cancer often elicits “I’m sorry to hear that”-type statements. Yet, when you first heard about Sophie Turner's eating disorder or Naomi Judd's suicide, did you think something like, "But, they have everything! How could she feel bad about herself or her life?" If you did, you are not alone.

Many of us still have beliefs and biases about mental health that can get in the way of seeking help when we’re hurting, not functioning well, or not feeling ourselves. For example, some view psychological, social, and emotional distress as less important than physical. Others think numerous mental health disorders are choices or the person “just needs to toughen up." I hear these types of sentiments often, and I understand.

Mental illness can make a person seem irrational, attention-seeking, self-focused, etc., to self and others. Yet, as we see and hear from people who appear to live golden lives, mental illness can, for example, make anyone genuinely feel like (and I quote many here) "a piece of sh*t." It sometimes compels individuals to believe they are worthless. Ashley Judd eloquently paints a picture of the condition that led to her mother’s suicide. She refers to the "level of catastrophe that was going on inside” her mother and the convincing “lie the disease told her.” Psychiatric disorders can be as debilitating and devastating as diabetes, cancer, and other physical diseases.

Odds are that you know at least one person struggling with their mental health. Each country has its own rates, but let’s look at the United States as an example. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five people will experience a diagnosable mental illness in a given year. According to the most current "State of Mental Health in America,” 11.4 million Americans have serious thoughts of suicide, up nearly two-thirds of a million from the previous year studied. Furthermore, globally, anxiety and depression are on the rise. In March 2022, the World Health Organization reported that in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global prevalence of those “increased by a massive 25%.” What’s more, we also know that people often avoid seeking help for their emotional and behavioral distress. So, these numbers may be underrepresented.

When we think of how common mental health disorders are, maybe the person who came down with one is you?

Call to Action

If you are experiencing a mental health struggle or illness, please advocate for yourself—even when it's difficult to do or your mental state tries to convince you it’s unnecessary. Seek help. Here are three considerations to help set you in motion.

1. A therapist is often the first-line recommendation. Psychology Today offers a therapist directory that includes a variety of information (e.g., therapists that charge a range of fees, are on/not on insurance panels, and have specific expertise). And for people who are experiencing financial limitations but want therapy, community agencies and some graduate school clinics provide low-fee and sliding-scale therapy in the United States.
2. Another solid starting point can be to reach out to your medical doctor if you have one. Tell them what's going on for you so they can support and refer appropriately.
3. It will likely help you to tell a friend or loved one who can help advocate for and with you. Your mental state may want to quit the therapy process at different times. For example, choosing a therapist or navigating our health system can be overwhelming for someone who is ill. Also, your condition can convince you that, for example, you don't "deserve" to feel better or that you're "broken." In many cases, it can be useful to have a proponent.

Conclusion

Returning to Sophie Turner and Naomi Judd, famous people may have more money than most. Therefore, they have access to a wide variety of mental health resources. Still, as we have seen repeatedly, that doesn’t mean that healing is guaranteed or easy for them (or anyone else). Like physical illnesses, mental health disorders can affect anyone vulnerable to them. And many conditions can be healed with awareness and proper support. There is hope and help.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This blog is provided for advocacy and informational purposes. Various suicide hotlines exist internationally: please find and keep yours handy. I hope you never need it. And, someone's there for you in case you do.

If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK, or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, see the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.