We often look to celebrities—whether they be actors, singers, comedians, or TV personalities—for guidance. We hope that they don’t let us down, but use their platform for good, to demonstrate respectable actions and ideations. And while sometimes we’re left disappointed, at others we are proud, uplifted, and ultimately pieced back together by these stars’ words and movements. In the realm of mental illness, we have only experienced the latter: so many celebrities have rallied behind the importance of mental health, shared their own experiences with mental illness, and done their best to break the stigmas that surround the words ‘mentally ill.’ Below are 10 of those celebrities who have demonstrated braveness, helped stop the stigma, and shed some light on what comes with mental illness:

    1) “There is such an extreme stigma about mental health issues, and I can’t make heads or tails of why it exists. Anxiety and depression are impervious to accolades or achievements. Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success.” -Kristen Bell

    2) “It took me a while to get my stuff together, to go, ‘You know what? If you’re not happy you have to do something about it.’ Just to admit that you are feeling this way is a huge step. To claim that, to say, ‘Why do I feel dark? Why do I feel unhappy? Let me do something about this.’” -Wayne Brady

    3) “My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn’t I go to a shrink?” -Kerry Washington

    4) “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation about illnesses that affect not only individuals, but their families as well.” -Glen Close

    5) “At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage. So if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.” -Carrie Fisher

    6) “Unfortunately we live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast, but if you tell people you’re depressed, everyone runs the other day. That’s the stigma. We are so, so, so accepting of any body part breaking down, other than our brains. And that’s ignorance. That’s pure ignorance. And that ignorance has created a world that doesn’t understand depression, that doesn’t understand mental health.” -Kevin Breel

    7) “Meds didn’t make me a hollowed-out version of my former self or a messy bar patron with a bad bleach job. They allowed me to really meet myself. I wish that for every lady who has ever struggled. There’s really no shame.” -Lena Dunham

    8) “I did do therapy and antidepressants for a brief period, which helped me. Which is what therapy does: it gives you another perspective when you are so lost in your own spiral…it helps.” -Jon Hamm

    9) “It doesn’t have to take over your life. It doesn’t have to define you as a person. It’s just important that you ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness.” -Demi Lovato

    10) “Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, or your brain, it’s still an illness. And there should be no distinction.” -Michelle Obama