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Top Eight Ways For Celebrities And Senior Executives To Manage Their Mental Health
Dr. Jeff J. Rocker, Celebrity Therapist of Rocker Management Inc.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and here’s a news bulletin everyone may be familiar with: A high-profile athlete, actor or other celebrity is in a downward mental health spiral, and everyone is watching. This may involve a public statement about experiencing a mental health crisis — or it may go as far as publicized incidents of intoxication, violent altercations, or self-destructive actions that lead to legal troubles, culminating in adverse impacts on these individuals’ contracts and careers.
Why do celebrities so often struggle with mental health? The reason is twofold: High amounts of pressure and scrutiny lead to a diminished sense of being free to seek help when it’s needed. Individuals such as athletes are expected to constantly perform at peak levels and are criticized from all sides when they fall short. Because they are perceived as being so successful, wealthy, and aspirational, there is limited cognizance among their fans that these individuals may also experience challenges relating to addiction, depression, or anxiety. In short, the public views these individuals as gods — and they aren’t “allowed” to struggle in human ways.
