Demi Lovato launches mental health campaign
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Pop star Demi Lovato has launched a campaign urging those with mental health disorders to speak up and raise awareness.
The Heart Attack hitmaker was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was admitted to rehab in 2010 for a number of issues including bulimia, self-harm and substance abuse.
She has always been open about her troubles, and is now launching
the campaign with a number of health organisations to encourage
those with mental illnesses to talk about it to help erase the
stigma.
Lovato tells People.com the drive "is very important to me because
I have struggled with bipolar disorder for several years now...
Also my father had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well, and
I watched him live a very unfortunate life because of the lack of
access to treatment... I just think mental illness is something
people need to learn more about and the stigma needs to be taken
away...
"It's also about speaking up for your community which is taking
action, whether it's writing a letter to Congress and telling them
how this is affecting you and your life and how you would like to
see mental health care more accessible in your community... There's
so many different ways you can help. I think together as a country
we have to step up and we have to do something about this issue
that is becoming quite an epidemic."
The Be Vocal: Speak Up For Mental Health initiative, which launches
on Thursday (28May15), also aims to improve treatment and resources
for sufferers and their families.