Talking about depression can be a tricky subject. Some people may not know how to break the news to their loved ones. Some may never tell their families at all. There’s no perfect guide to making a private health matter public beyond a trusted few. So when Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams went public with her announcement that she is seeking treatment for depression, she was taking a big risk — especially as a black woman.
Williams received an outpouring of public support in response to her statement. In a message posted to her Twitter account, she said she wanted to “lead by example as I tirelessly advocate for the betterment of those in need.” Missy Elliot wished her well as did Destiny’s Child alum, LaTavia Roberson. Fans applauded Williams’s move to open up about her condition and make the conversation around depression feel less taboo.
According to Billboard, the singer opened up about her long undiagnosed depression last year when she revealed she had felt the effects of the mental illness even at the height of Destiny’s Child’s stardom. She began feeling depressed as a teenager, but her concerns about her mental state were dismissed. At times, she felt like quitting the group or committing suicide.
I want to lift our sis up in prayer because there are so many people battling this & many trying to deal with it alone😔Please No jokes this is REAL & as human beings let’s keep the ones who are openly dealing with it uplifted & be encouraging to them! Love u @RealMichelleW❤️ https://t.co/XJEIPkbovf
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 17, 2018In a public health study in the American Journal of Public Health, research found higher rates of major depression in black and Latinx communities. Women were twice as likely than men to be diagnosed with major depression.
There are so many economic, cultural and social pressures confronting women of color as they seek treatment, that the act of destigmatizing depression like Williams’s public announcement can go a long way.
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