Kristen Bell Suffers from Depression, and She Wants You to Know There's Nothing Wrong with That
"There's nothing weak about struggling with mental illness."
![Kristen Bell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/irRgjKS67KDEVV4KfShcVh-415-80.jpg)
Fact: people suffer from depression, and getting treatment should never be a source of shame. And the more celebrities who use their platform to open up about mental health, the better—which is why we're all 🙌 at Kristen Bell right now.
The 35-year-old actress has a pretty sunny disposition on camera, but—as we all know—a person's exterior isn't always a reflection of their emotional reality. In an essay for Motto, Bell talked about her struggle with depression, and thanked her mother for her openness "on this predominantly silent subject."
"I knew that help was out there—and to seek it without shame," she wrote of suffering from depression at NYU. "When you try to keep things hidden, they fester and ultimately end up revealing themselves in a far more destructive way than if you approach them with honesty."
Bell said she opted not to speak publicly about her mental health for the first 15 years of her career, but (as she notes) depression and anxiety should never ever ever be taboo.
Bell went on to suggest that mental health check-ins be a routine part of wellness, which seems like an idea so basic it's a wonder doctors aren't already on board.
Preach x 1,000.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
Our Complete Quiet Luxury Shopping Guide
30 quality closet classics that always have—and always will—endure.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford Medal in Mother-Daughter Olympic Matching
The pair touched down in Paris wearing coordinating navy looks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kristen Bell Explained Why Her Kids Sometimes Drink Non-Alcoholic Beers
It checks out.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Dax Shepard Thought Kristen Bell Was in a Cult When They First Met
Apparently, her unbridled happiness was just too much for him.
By Mehera Bonner Published
-
Kristen Bell Watching 'Game of Thrones' Was All of Us Watching 'Game of Thrones'
😭😭😭😭
By Samantha Leal Published