Tag Archives: Mental Health

Selena Gomez’s Wondermind Developing “Behind the Racquet” Mental Health Docuseries with Venus Williams

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Selena Gomez is making a racquet about the mental health of tennis player.

Wondermind, co-founded by the 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer, Mandy Teefey and Daniella Pierson, will join forces with Venus Williams for Behind The Racquet.

Selena Gomez

The docuseries, currently in development, will address the mental health challenges faced by athletes in tennis.

It aims to raise awareness and destigmatize conversations about the challenges athletes face on and off the court, exploring mental health in tennis through the lens of those who live it.

Shot and directed by Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated director and cinematographer Rex Miller, each one-hour episode will contain three player vignettes, giving viewers a 360-degree view of the sport.

Through candid conversations with recreational players to pros at the top of their field, the series explores themes such as grief, anxiety, disability, body image, disordered eating, family, and sexuality.

Williams, Isha Price, Noah Rubin, Teefey, Katelyn Afshar and Zach Mitchell executive produce.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the production team for Behind The Racquet as it will tackle some of the hardest mental health conversations athletes have in tennis,” said EP and tennis champion Williams. “By exploring and sharing how athletes cope with their mental health and other off-court challenges, we’re able to address and normalize the many different layers of how mental health contributes to player performance and beyond.”

By giving an exclusive look at the triumphs and struggles both on and off the court, the docuseries is Wondermind’s cinematic expansion of a widely acclaimed social media community and platform – also called Behind the Racquet – where tennis players share their mental health journeys online. The community was founded by professional tennis player Noah Rubin, who is an executive producer of the docuseries.

“The connection between players’ mental health and performance as athletes has often been discussed in the world of sports, but never explored so intimately in the world of tennis as it will in ‘Behind The Racquet,’” said Teefey, Co-founder & CEO of Wondermind and executive producer of the project. “Wondermind is dedicated to telling deep, character-rich stories that showcase universal narratives about mental health from diverse perspectives. We’re thrilled to have excellent production partners in Venus, Isha, Noah and team to achieve this.”

Behind The Racquet is the first docuseries produced by Wondermind, which creates content in film, TV, editorial, podcast, and other forums to normalize and advance mental health topics with authentic, first-hand stories and expert-backed reporting.

Cristo Fernandez & “Ted Lasso” Cast to Discuss Mental Health at White House

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Cristo Fernandez is heading to Washington, D.C.

The 32-year-old Mexican actor and former professional footballer and his Ted Lasso cast mates will visit the White House on Monday to participate in a discussion with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on “the importance of mental health to promote overall wellbeing.

Cristo FernándezApple announced the meeting Sunday afternoon.

President Biden teased the appearance minutes before Apple’s confirmation, posting a reference to the Apple TV+ hit comedy: “Tomorrow.”

“Ted Lasso has inspired the world through its universal themes around optimism, kindness, and determination and the Lasso philosophy to ‘believe,’” reads Apple’s announcement of the meeting of the minds.

Excerpts from the event will be released on the White House’s official social media channels.

The third season of Ted Lasso debuted on Apple TV+ on March 15, kicking off its 12-episode season. There remains uncertainty whether a fourth season of the show will be approved by showrunner and star Jason Sudeikis, who has stated that such a matter “will always be dictated by the stories.”

Sudeikis developed Ted Lasso along with Bill Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt. It’s based on the existing format and characters first featured on NBC Sports.

Sudeikis serves as an executive producer in addition to starring. Lawrence executive produces via Doozer Productions. Hunt, Kelly and Bill Wrubel also executive produce along with Doozer’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer as well as Jane Becker and Jamie Lee. Goldstein is a writer and co-executive producer on the series.

It’s produced by Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

Fernandez portrays the lovable Dani Rojas on the series.

Apple Releases Trailer for Selena Gomez’s New Documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”

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Selena Gomez is opening up about her mental health struggles…

The 30-year-old Mexican American actress/singer and Only Murders in the Building star addresses her struggles in the upcoming Apple Original Films documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.

Selena GomezApple released the first trailer for the documentary.

“How do I learn how to breathe my own breath again?” Gomez asks during the clip from the film, which chronicles the actor’s years-long journey through such health issues as lupus and bipolar disorder.

Directed and produced by Alek Keshishian, the trailer was released on World Mental Health Day, in support of global mental health education and awareness.

Apple describes the doc like his: “After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.”

Gomez has sold more than 210 million singles worldwide and amassed over 45 billion global streams of her music.

This year, she received a Grammy nomination for her first all-Spanish EP and an Emmy nomination as a producer for Only Murders in the Building, in which she stars opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short.

This new documentary marks the second project for Apple with producers Lighthouse Management + Media and Interscope Films following their collaboration on the Emmy Award-nominated documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.

Selena Gomez Hosts Mental Health Forum at White House with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden & Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

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Selena Gomez is bring the important topic of mental health to the White House…

The 29-year-old Mexican American singer, actress, and producer hosted a forum alongside Dr. Jill Biden and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy for the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum, a panel to discuss the mental health issues young people are struggling with, and suggested possible ways mental health can be improved.

Selena GomezGomez, Biden and Murthy met with 30 mental health leaders and additionally spoke about how far speaking about mental health has come since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

“Over the last decade, an alarming number of young people have struggled with mental health challenges, and the pandemic has made it so much worse: the isolation, the anxiety and, yes, the grief. They are wounds that sometimes go unseen, too often cloaked in secrecy and shame,” Biden addressed the crowd, which gathered in the White House’s East Room. “But young people don’t have to face these challenges alone. No one does. The darkness inside of us can feel heavy at times, but we can share the weight of it together. And we can help bring those feelings and experiences to the light.”

Gomez then shared anecdotes of her own regarding her mental health.

“I heard a phrase recently that I really like: the mentionable becomes manageable. I felt like once I found out what was going on mentally I found there was more freedom for me to be ok with what I had because I was learning about it, and talking about your own journey helps,” she said. “It is a topic that should be talked about freely, without shame.”

“I hope that by using my platform to share my own story and by working with incredible people,” Gomez continued. “I can help others feel less alone and find the help that they need, which is honestly all I want…We need as much help as we can possibly get developing resources and services and increasing access to those services for young people.”

Gomez teaming up with Biden comes in light of Thursday’s Mental Health Action Day and the April launch of Gomez’s Wondermind, her mental health fitness company.

Selena Gomez Launches “Your Words Matter” Campaign in Partnership with Rare Beauty & Mental Health First Aid

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Selena Gomez has a few words to share…

This Mental Health Awareness Month, the 29-year-old Mexican American actress/singer has launched a new campaign about the importance of language.

Selena GomezGomez, who has been an outspoken mental health advocate, took to social media on Sunday to announce the launch of a new campaign called Your Words Matter.

The initiative — which aims to “educate on the power of your words when talking about mental health,” according to a statement — is a partnership between Gomez’s makeup company Rare Beauty and Mental Health First Aid.

“Your words matter,” Gomez wrote to her 317 million followers on Instagram. “Join @RareBeauty for Mental Health Awareness Month as we share resources and bring awareness to the power of your words all month long on IG and RareBeauty.com/RareImpact. Together we can break the stigma.”

The Only Murders in the Building star’s post also included a screenshot of a powerful message she wrote on the Notes app of her phone.

“Words can be a barrier to people seeking help and increase the stigma associated with mental health. Many of these words have been normalized and accepted for far too long, but it’s time we bring awareness to the words we use… because they matter,” she wrote.

“Even in my own TikTok video, I now realize that my words matter and can have a powerful impact. Just like all of you, I’m learning every day. We may slip up, and that’s okay, what’s important is that we try to do better and give ourselves compassion.”

Rare Beauty offered some tips on Instagram about changing language to focus on the person and not their mental health. For example, instead of referring to someone as “a bipolar person,” one could say, “a person who has bipolar disorder.” Or changing “someone who committed suicide” to “a person who died by suicide.”

For last year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Gomez and Rare Beauty launched the Mental Health 101 campaign, which is “dedicated to supporting mental health education and encouraging financial support for more mental health services in educational services,” she wrote on Instagram.

Gomez, who’s recently turned her sights on founding a mental wellness website called Wondermind, first opened up about her bipolar diagnosis on her Bright Minded Instagram Live series in April 2020.

In September 2019, she won the 2019 McClean Award for her mental health advocacy and detailed her struggles with anxiety and depression during her acceptance speech.

J Balvin to Host Mental Health-Themed Series “Gente Sana”

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J Balvin is preparing to tackle mental health issues…

The 36-year-old Colombian singer and rapper is set to host the new series Gente Sana, produced by Exile Content Studio.

J BalvinThe program will stream on TPlus, a new streaming platform by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. Gente Sana will also stream on Peacock toward the end of the year.

The six-episodes series will explore techniques used by celebrities to cope with mental health issues. Each episode will feature a new guest that will, “have a candid and intimate conversation with Balvin about their coping mechanisms and personal rituals that give them confidence,” according to an official press release.

“I’ve always been honest about my own struggle with mental health issues and that’s why I’m honored that Exile and NBC have offered me a platform to continue to have these honest conversations with people going through a similar situation,” Balvin said in a statement. “Mental health is very important for me and it’s something many of us struggle with. I hope to create content that will help people who are struggling and for them to know they’re not alone and that there are many healthy ways to approach this topic.”

Demi Lovato Partners with Talkspace to Encourage Others to Find Their Own “Voice and Freedom” Through Therapy

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Demi Lovato is helping people struggling with mental health challenges get the help they need…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American actor/singer, who has always been open about their struggles with mental health, is hoping to inspire others by giving them a tool to find their own “voice and freedom” through therapy.

Demi Lovato

Lovato is an ambassador for Talkspace, an online therapy app and site that connects people to licensed therapists, whether they want to talk through a breakup and other relationship issues, or are suffering from trauma, anxiety or depression. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Talkspace is offering $120 off their service with the promo code DEMI120.

Lovato joined Talkspace as a partner last fall, saying they wanted to help “de-stigmatize” the idea of therapy. Talkspace says more than 50% of Americans struggle with mental health, but two-thirds of people with a known mental health illness are not seeking treatment. What’s more, the company says they’ve doubled their volume since the pandemic hit last March.

With Talkspace, you can get matched with a licensed therapist online within 24 hours, and then set up an appointment, whether over video, text or phone call. You can connect with your therapist daily or set up meetings based on your schedule and needs. Since everything is done over your computer or phone, Talkspace is a great option for people who prefer discretion, or the ease and comfort of logging in from the privacy of their home.

Whether you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, recovering from trauma or in need of psychiatry, adolescent, or couples therapy, Talkspace says they have clinical treatment options for almost every need.

“We’re honored to work with Demi Lovato to continue destigmatizing therapy, and inspiring others to take action in support of their mental health — making therapy available to all at a time when it’s needed most,” the company says in a release.

“From my time as a child actor and singer to growing up in the public eye — I’ve tried to remain true to myself and honest with my fans by sharing my story of struggle, hoping that whoever needs to hear it finds solace and inspiration for their own journey,” Lovato adds. “We’re all dealing with our own struggles, so it’s important to arm ourselves with the right resources to not only live and manage — but thrive — every day.”

Find out more about Talkspace and see their plans and options at Talkspace.com. And take $120 off right now with promo code DEMI120.

Lovato Gives Moving Speech on Mental Health at the Democratic National Convention

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Demi Lovato is living with mental illness, and she’s not afraid to talk about it to a national audience.

The 23-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress delivered an inspired speech regarding mental illness and a need to improve the quality and availability of medical treatment during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday in Philadelphia.

Demi Lovato

“Like millions of Americans, I am living with mental illness, but I’m lucky: I had the resources and support to get treatment at a top facility,” said Lovato, who spent time in a treatment center for bipolar disorder and anxiety. “Unfortunately, too many Americans from all walks of life don’t get help, either because they fear the stigma or they can not afford treatment.

Lovato also called on politicians to support laws that would provide access to improved health care for all those suffering with mental illness. “Untreated mental illness can lead to devastating consequences including suicide, substance abuse and long-term medical issues,” Lovato said. “We can do better. Every one of us can make a difference.”

“I stand here today as proof that you can live a normal and empowered life with mental illness,” the singer added. “I’m proud to support a presidential candidate who will fight to ensure all people living with mental health conditions get the care they need to lead fulfilling lives. That candidate is Hillary Clinton. Let’s make her the next president of the United States of America.”

Following her speech, Lovato then offered the Philadelphia crowd a live performance of her single “Confident.”