Miller, who came out as gay in 2013, has publicly addressed his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in recent years, combating critics of physical appearance by discussing how mental health struggles affected his weight. When asked whether his advocacy for mental health has affected his approach to his Prison Break character, Miller told reporters:
"It informs my everyday experience and informs me as a performer for sure. I've walked a long road, and I've seen and experienced a lot of things. One of the gifts of being where I am now, where I can talk openly about being queer, about having mental health issues . . . it means that I can walk on set and instead of playing multiple parts, like 'the guy who has it all together' while I'm playing Michael Scofield, I can just focus on Michael Scofield, and it's made me stronger as an artist."
Wentworth Miller: Mental Health Advocate
The mental health conversation does expose vulnerability on both fronts: the revealer (person living with mental illness) and the revealee (person living without mental illness). But we do need both people to:
That was a turning point for Miller in terms of social activism. After that, he worked as a mental health advocate and ambassador for multiple organizations. Before he reprised his role on Prison Break, he said that experience shaped his life and career.
Jon Hamm has always been outspoken about the benefits of therapy. The actor, who once went to rehab for alcohol addiction, says he wants people to know that it's important to take care of your mental health just as you would if you had any other physical issue with your body.
Kevin Bacon admits that he's been dealing with anxiety for decades. Just as he was finding fame, he suffered his first panic attack amid concerns about his career, his mom's health and his wife's pregnancy. Since then, he's been an advocate for therapy because "everybody has worry in their lives." In addition to therapy, Kevin also often turns to music, penning songs about what he's going through.
Zayn Malik's struggle with anxiety began back when he was in One Direction and continued with him when he started his solo career. It even caused him to cancel concerts which, at the time, he let fans know was due to his mental health struggle. He's now got things more under control but knows it was important to be honest about it when he was going through it.
Pete Davidson has long been open about his mental health struggles, which began when he was just a child. After being in and out of inpatient treatment facilities for much of his life, he was finally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder when he was 23. Just having a name for what he was dealing with was a huge help to Pete, who says it felt like the "weight of the world" was lifted off his shoulders. And although he still faces depression, he has learned ways to cope with it.
Not only has Chance the Rapper struggled with anxiety, but he's trying to make a big difference in the conversation surrounding mental health. The musician explained that he never talked about mental health as he was growing up, sharing that he wants to change that for the next generation. So far, he's donated $1 million to health services in Chicago through SocialWorks, his nonprofit organization which has a mental health initiative called My State of Mind.
"A really big conversation and idea that I'm getting introduced to right now is Black mental health. 'Cause for a long time that wasn't a thing that we talked about. I don't remember it. I don't remember people talking about anxiety; I don't remember, when I was growing up, that really being a thing. Now I'm starting to get a better understanding of that part of my life," Chance told Complex.
On October 17, 2016, Active Minds, a mental health charity, announced that Miller would be an ambassador for the organization.[38] In a 2016 Facebook post, he revealed that he "[had] struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost [him] time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights." He made this emotional post in reaction to a meme of himself which poked fun at his weight gain in 2010. Miller said that his weight gain was due to him finding comfort in food as he was suicidal.[39] Near the end of the post he provided links for organizations such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Active Minds.[40]Wentworth revealed he had been diagnosed with autism "a year ago" on July 27, 2021. He posted on Instagram: "This isn't something I'd change ... immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I've achieved/articulated."[41]
Recently, the actor came under fire as memes circulated showcasing his weight gain. He took the opportunity to speak out about mental health, sharing his struggle with deep depression. Wentworth says the photos were actually taken years ago, when he was at his lowest point.
Wentworth has been vocal in the past about his struggles with depression. The actor came out in 2013 in a letter rejecting his invitation to the St. Petersburg International Film festival. Ever since he has been a proponent of anti-bullying and mental health awareness.
Miller began the original Prison Break fresh from working as a Fox temp for six years, and auditioning in front of "executives I answered the phone for." Since the show ended, he took a "semi-retirement" from acting, became an advocate for mental health and LGBTQ issues, and returned to TV on Legends.
Wentworth Miller, the actor best known for his lead role in Prison Break, has hit out at a fat-shaming online meme, also revealing his struggles with depression and other mental health issues in the past.
As mental health advocates, we need to be creating safe spaces for people to reveal what can be deeply personal aspects of their being. Part of this comes from applauding those who have the courage to share. I am so glad to see more and more people opening up about their struggles with mental illness and am hopeful about what this holds for the future.
However Miller is now determined to use his experiences to offer reassurance to others going through the same struggles as him and is considered an advocate for both mental health and gender identity issues.
Wentworth Miller played the role of Michael Scofield in "Prison Break" for 12 years. He is popular for his successful acting career and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He routinely raises awareness for better mental health.
Wentworth Miller has previously been linked to actor Kristoffer Cusick and photographer Mark Liddell. The actor was recently trending when memes about his weight gain started going viral. Miller later spoke out about his struggles with mental health and depression. He added that the photos of weight gain were taken a few years ago when he was at his lowest.
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"Definitely talking about it. The way people are comfortable talking about preventative measures for physical health, or when you have a physical health issue, there is no shame in getting it checked out. When I supervise young clinicians, who may have never been in their own therapy, I am always telling them that I have done work in my own therapy. It helps you be a better human and a better therapist. Talking about mental health and being open is the best way to reduce the stigma."
The process also impacted his mental health. He said, "I started to develop insomnia, and I fell into a pretty bad depression, for a long time. Something about that experience burned me out. I had a really hard time recentering. Ultimately they chalked it up to taking way too many diuretics for way too long, and it messed something up."
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is 1-888-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.
Raina Advani, MD, (She/Her/Hers)University of Michigan Dr. Advani was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and graduated from UC Berkeley with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Sociology. While in college, she provided mental health counseling to undergraduate students and focused on expanding mental health resources for her community. She then moved to New York to pursue the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Columbia University before matriculating to medical school at the University of Michigan. While in medical school, Dr. Advani led a mentorship program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds and was an advocate for diversity in medicine. She also pursued research in adolescent contraceptive uptake, perinatal depression, and contraceptive counseling in Africa. Her clinical and research interests include high risk obstetrics, adolescent gynecology, perinatal mental health, patient safety/quality improvement, and medical education. Outside of the hospital, she loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, explore food scenes, dance, attend concerts, and take spin and Pilates classes!
Dr. Swope received her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Gender and Health at the University of Michigan. She then went on to receive a medical degree and Master of Public Health at Loyola University Chicago, where she was inaugurated as a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. As a medical student, Dr. Swope was actively involved in The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and served in leadership roles on the local, regional, and national levels. She was instrumental in implementing Centering Pregnancy at Loyola and is passionate about maternal health and reproductive justice. In her free time, Dr. Swope enjoys traveling, getting her nails done, painting, hanging out with friends, snowboarding, and exploring new hobbies. 2ff7e9595c
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