Content warning: This post discusses eating disorders and mental health issues.

Few celebrities have been as open and vocal as Demi Lovato when it comes to speaking about their own mental health struggles while also raising awareness and funds to help others and advocate for policy changes around a subject that affects us all. This issue especially impacts Latinx youth. Research shows that Latinx children and adolescents suffer from higher rates of depression and suicidal behavior than their white peers. They are also less likely to receive
mental health treatment.

There are many factors that play a role in this devastating stat, from the lack of access to mental health services to discrimination, poverty, and the impact of immigration. But another key factor that often prevents Latinx kids from getting help is the stigma around mental illness and mental health, which, according to nonprofit Mental Health America, leads to prolonged suffering in silence. “This silence compounds the range of experiences that may lead to mental health conditions including immigration, acculturation, trauma, and generational conflicts,” it says on the organization’s website. Lovato, who has Mexican ancestry and has recently changed pronouns to they/them, is an inspiration for young Latinx who might struggle with the same issues but don’t feel safe sharing about them because of the stigma that still very much exists in Latinx communities. From sharing their experience in a raw and honest documentary to advocating for healthcare reform that puts comprehensive mental health first, keep reading to learn how this inspiring icon is working to put an end to the era of mental health stigma.