“It took me a while to realize this but the key is not to be afraid to open up.”
Mental health is important no matter who you are. For men in Hollywood, it can be difficult to be open about personal struggles, especially in a culture filled with toxic masculinity. That’s why when these stars speak out publicly, it’s important to highlight their voices. Not only do their stories give a first-hand account of what it’s like to deal with mental health issues like anxiety or depression, but it also helps normalize the conversation surrounding the topics. This, in turn, might even give other men the courage to be open about their struggles — and possibly get help.
Here’s what these stars had to say about their mental health…
Getty
12 Celebrity Couples Who Got Married in Vegas
See the story
1. Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm has always been outspoken about the benefits of therapy. The actor, who once went to rehab for alcohol addiction, says he wants people to know it’s important to take care of your mental health like you would if you had another physical problem with your body.
“Medical care is medical care, whether it’s for your elbow, your teeth, or your brain. And that’s important. We live in a world where admitting something negative about yourself is seen as a weakness, so that it’s actually a strength. It’s not a weak movement to say, ‘I need help.’ In the long run it’s much better, because it needs to be fixed,” Jon said in an interview with In the style.
2. Kevin Bacon
Kevin Bacon admits he has suffered from anxiety for decades. Just as he was rising to fame, he suffered his first panic attack amid worries about his career, his mother’s health and his wife’s pregnancy. Since then, he has defended therapy because “everyone has worries in their life”. In addition to therapy, Kevin also often turns to music, writing songs about what he’s going through.
“I find writing songs to be extremely therapeutic. It’s like my therapist is going on vacation. It’s a good time to pick up a guitar and talk about what’s going on…I wrote a song called ‘Shaking.’ It starts out talking about earthquakes in Southern California, but it’s a metaphor for anxiety,” Kevin said. The mirror.

Getty
11 stars who totally embrace their body hair
See the story
3. Zayn Malik
Zayn Malik’s struggle with anxiety began when he was in One Direction and continued with him when he started his solo career. It even caused him to cancel concerts which, at the time, he let fans know were due to his mental health issues. He now has more control over things, but he knows it was important to be honest about it when he was going through this ordeal.
“I don’t have an anxiety issue now. It was something I dealt with in the band. People saw strength in it, and they didn’t seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a woman, which to me is crazy. We’re all human. People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don’t believe there should be a struggle with anything that be the truth,” Zayn said Sunday style magazine.
4. Prince Harry
Over the past few years, Prince Harry has been incredibly open about his mental health – particularly about how he was affected by the death of his mother when he was just 12. While Harry admits he ‘shut off’ his emotions for nearly two decades, he finally realized how much it affected both his personal life and his work.
“I can say that losing my mother at the age of 12 and therefore shutting down all my emotions for the past 20 years has had a rather serious effect not only on my personal life but also on my work…I have started having a few conversations and actually all of a sudden all this grief that I had never dealt with started to come to the fore and I was like, ‘There’s actually a lot of stuff here that I gotta take care of’, said Harry on the The Mad World of Bryony Gordon Podcast.
Now Harry wants to help others with mental health issues by “normalizing the conversation” and he even ran a mental health documentary series in partnership with Oprah Winfrey.

Getty
These stars admit they were completely embarrassed about their dates
See the story
5. Carson Daly
Carson Daly has suffered from anxiety since childhood and was eventually diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Although he looks cool and collected on TV, he often struggles with anxiety attacks that can make him feel like he’s “dying”. He says they don’t just happen during high-pressure situations like TV appearances, but can also happen when he’s hanging out with family and friends. Fortunately, he was able to get help through therapy – and hopes others can do the same.
“I went with a cognitive therapist, someone who teaches you about anxiety, models it, and gives you tools on how to overcome it. Muscle retention relaxation really helps me” , said Carson “Todayadding, “People are so scared of what other people think of you. I also wish people could tear down that wall. I guarantee everyone has something.”
6. Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds admits he’s lived with anxiety “his whole life” and has been open about his fight. While he says he tends to “think too much, work too much, [and] too much worry,” he explained that he’s able to cast himself as a character when it comes time to be in the spotlight. And when he’s off-screen, he uses meditation and full awareness to stay calm.
“I tend to cover anxiety with work and, to a lesser extent, success. Sometimes you want to tick boxes. So these days my goal is to be as present as possible and not not just ticking a box just to do it. I fully accept and I’m going through this right now. It was amazing,” Ryan said. WSJ Magazine.

Getty
The essential Bruce Willis movies (and where to stream them)
See the story
7. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson has dealt with depression for much of his life. As well as stopping his mother from a suicide attempt when he was just 15, he admits he hit a low point after numerous injuries ruined his dreams of playing professional football. As he says he and his mother have both “healed”, he has realized the importance of caring for others who are hurting.
“We all go through the mud/shit and depression never discriminates. It took me a long time to realize this, but the key is not to be afraid to open up. Especially us, the guys, tend to keep it. You’re not alone,” Dwayne wrote on .
8. wayne brady
Wayne Brady may be a funny guy onscreen, but he actually secretly battled depression for years. He explained that for a long time he found himself trapped in a cycle where he wallowed in his own darkness and felt like he didn’t deserve to get better. He says he hit rock bottom on his 42nd birthday, but that’s when he finally realized he had to make a change.
“It took me a while to gather my things and say to myself, ‘You know what? If you’re not happy, you have to do something about it.’ Just admitting that you feel that way is a huge step. Affirming that, saying, “Why do I feel gloomy? Why do I feel unhappy? Let me do something about it,” Wayne said. entertainment tonight.

Getty
13 celebrities who totally lied about their identities to fans
See the story
9. Michael Phelps
Olympian Michael Phelps may have been one of the best athletes in the world, but behind the scenes he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. He explained that he carried negative emotions for nearly two decades without discussing how he felt and reached an all-time high when he was caught driving under the influence for the second times and was subsequently suspended by USA Swimming.
“I can tell you that I’ve probably had at least half a dozen depressions that I’ve been through. And the one in 2014, I didn’t want to be alive…I basically wore just about every negative emotions that you possibly can I went on for 15, 20 years and never talked about it And I don’t know why one day I decided to open up But since that day it’s been so easier to live with and so much easier to enjoy life, and that’s something I’m so grateful for,” Michael said.Today.”
ten. pete davidson
Pete Davidson has long been open about his mental health struggles, which began when he was just a child. After being hospitalized for much of his life, he was finally diagnosed with borderline personality disorder at the age of 23. Just having a name for what he was dealing with was a huge help for Pete, who says the “weight of the world” has been taken off his shoulders. And even though he still faces depression, he has learned to deal with it.
“I wake up depressed, but now I know my steps. I have to go out and be in the sun for a bit, or go for a walk. It’s just programming itself to trick its brain… As long as you’re there good people who support you, and if you’re strong enough, you can get through it,” Pete said in a interview with Charlamagne Tha Dieu.

Getty
17 Actors Who Didn’t Love Or Regret Big Movie And TV Roles
See the story
11. luck the rapper
Not only has Chance the Rapper battled anxiety, he’s trying to make a big difference in the mental health conversation. The musician explained that he never talked about mental health while growing up, sharing that he wanted to change that for the next generation. So far, he has donated $1 million to Chicago Health Services through SocialWorks, his nonprofit that has a mental health initiative called My State of Mind.
“A really big conversation and idea that I’m being introduced to right now is black mental health. Because for a long time it wasn’t something that we talked about. I don’t remember that. I don’t I don’t remember people talking about anxiety; I don’t remember when I was growing up that it was really a thing. Now I’m starting to understand that part of my life better,” Chance said. Complex.
12. Wentworth-Miller
Wentworth Miller has suffered from depression since childhood and says he hit a low point in 2010 when he was semi-retired. While “suffering in silence”, he admitted he was “suicidal” and on the “path of self-destruction”. Sometimes the only thing he looked forward to was his favorite meal. Looking back on photos from that time, Wentworth says it’s a reminder of all he persevered with.
“Now when I see this image of me in my red T-shirt, a rare smile on my face, it reminds me of my fight. My stamina and perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some inside. others outside … If you or someone you know is having difficulty, help is available. Contact us. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Mashable.