Selena Gomez says she wishes she had stood up for herself as she continues to encourage others to take charge of their mental health.
“It’s okay to ask for help,” Gomez, 31, says in a video shared exclusively with PEOPLE. “It is very important to feel comfortable. I wish I had asked [for help] at a younger age.”
She shares her tips as part of the ‘Call’ campaign, launched by her brand Rare Beauty, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The campaign encourages people who are struggling to “call someone you miss or someone who would like to hear your voice.”
And if you’re not sure who to call, Rare has launched its own hotline, 877-HEY-RARE, “for quick and easy cheers.”
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“If you ever feel lonely, you’re not alone,” the “Calm Down” singer said in a video promoting the campaign. “One in four people report feeling lonely, and this year for Mental Health Awareness Month, Rare Beauty is encouraging everyone to make a good call – literally with a phone.”
She continued: “Studies suggest that hearing a comforting voice can actually improve our mood in a way that texting can’t, so pick up the phone and call someone you love. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Or call anyone whose voice might bring you comfort.”
The last person Gomez spoke to, she says, was someone very special.
“The last person I called was last night, and that was my Nana,” Gomez said in a video he shared exclusively with PEOPLE.
She previously revealed on an episode of her Food Network show, Selena + chefthat he lives with his grandparents — and often searches the refrigerator for leftover food.
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“I don’t think I made a phone call today. I need it!” she said.
The Just the murders in the building star gave fans an intimate unpacking of both her mental health triumphs and downfalls in last year’s Apple TV+ documentary, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me.
In addition to her bipolar diagnosis, Gomez also suffers from lupus, and in 2017 she underwent a kidney transplant.
While hosting a benefit for the Rare Impact Health Fund — which supports youth mental health organizations — Gomez shared that “everything changed” when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“With that knowledge, I was able to seek the support I needed to be who I am, to find my joy again,” she said. “I’m very proud tonight to say that I am and I’ve worked really hard every day and I’m just so happy to be alive and to be here with you today.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the text crisis line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education