Selena Gomez reveals she contemplated suicide for years

Selena Gomez is getting real with fans about her mental health.
The pop star opened up in a new Rolling Stone profile about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, revealing she spent years contemplating suicide as she struggled with anxiety and depression.
"I thought the world would be better if I wasn't there," she said, recalling periods where she was unable to get out of bed for weeks. "My friends would bring me food because they love me, but none of us knew what it was," she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gomez told the outlet she has been to four treatment centers after "it started to get really dark" in her early 20s, and she began hearing voices in 2018. While at one treatment facility, she spent "several months suspended in paranoia," Rolling Stone reports. The singer and Only Murders in the Building star began taking medication after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, though she recalled that as a result of the drugs, there "was no part of me that was there anymore."
When she left that treatment facility, a psychiatrist pulled Gomez off all but two medications, and she said she had to "detox" from them and "learn how to remember certain words." She remains on two medications for her bipolar disorder now, and Rolling Stone reports this likely means she won't be able to carry children, which Gomez described as a "very big, big, present thing in my life."
Gomez's mental health struggles are explored in a revealing new Apple documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, which debuts Friday. Ahead of the film's release, she dropped a new single, "My Mind & Me," on Thursday, which includes the lyrics, "If I pull back the curtain, then maybe someone who's hurting will be a little more certain they're not the only one lost."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why is MAGA turning on Amy Coney Barrett?
Today's Big Question She may be the swing vote on Trump cases
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Gavin Newsom's podcast debut is not going over well with some liberals
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The first episode of the California Governor and potential presidential candidate's 'This is Gavin Newsom' featured cozy conversation with far-right operative Charlie Kirk and a surprisingly conservative stance on transgender athletes
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Extremists still find plenty of digital spaces'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published