Famous Male Celebrities Who Have Struggled With Mental Health Issues

To round off Men’s Health Week, we hoped it may be helpful to share with you an insight into some famous male personalities who have had to fight to maintain their mental wellbeing.

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry has been a mainstay of British entertainment for longer than some can recall, with many hugely successful shows, roles and appearances credited to his name.

Despite fame and fortune, he has opened up in recent years about his lifelong battle with (and subsequent diagnosis of) Bipolar Disorder – a condition that creates moods that fluctuate between soaring highs and despairing lows.

In recent years, Fry has been candid about his struggles, helping to shed light upon the condition to millions of people around the world.

Ryan Reynolds

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds has starred in a range of films and other projects over the years, but cemented his fame for many newer fans in 2018’s cinematic comic book adaptation, Deadpool.

Reynolds has suffered from anxiety his entire life, but has found that his acting roles and physical exercise help him to keep his overactive mind busy. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2021, he shared some of his struggles on Instagram in the hope that it would help others who also have difficulty coping:

 

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A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds)

Jim Carrey

Another face who is famous for making a living making people laugh, Jim Carrey has until recent years, secretly battled with depression throughout his career.

Having opened up about such personal issues in 2004, Carrey stated that he began his journey of recovery on anti-depressants, but has since ceased medication and has even abandoned stimulants such as coffee.

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm, also remembered as Don Draper in Mad Men, lost his mother as a child and later his father when he was in college. His bereavement soon led to depression, and it was such that he required therapy and medication whilst progressing with his university studies.

Hamm believes that therapy is what helped him through, that he was able to see his condition from another perspective and find strength in himself to carry on.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

If this article has taught you anything, we hope it’s that even the unlikeliest of people can suffer from depression. Dwayne Johnson may be known for his macho appearance and long-standing success in both professional wrestling and cinema, but still this isn’t enough to guarantee a life free of inner demons.

Having rescued his mother from a suicide attempt when he was fifteen years old, Johnson opened up in recent years to express how big of an effect this had on him growing up and how he had witnessed his family struggle with borderline poverty throughout his childhood.

He acknowledges that it took a long time, but he eventually realised that the key is to open up to others:

Got tons of responses to this. Thank you. We all go thru the sludge/shit and depression never discriminates. Took me a long time to realize it but the key is to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone

https://t.co/ADHjYtGe3k

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 2, 2018

Always remember

If you are struggling with your own emotions, talk to the people who care about you the most. Family and friends might not be aware unless you tell them, and it can be a huge relief to simply speak to someone about it. Most people will understand, and they may be able to help when they know that you’re going through a difficult time.

Your GP is always an option if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your thoughts with someone you know – they can offer talking therapies or another local service that can help. If things are bad and you need someone to talk to urgently, The Samaritans can be contacted at any time, in confidence, by calling 116 123.