Selena Gomez on stigma, self-care and her hopes for the future

It’s impossible not to feel the weight of Selena Gomez’s words as she speaks earnestly on the topic of mental health—a topic I hold close to my heart, and one which she insists we need to take far more seriously.

“If you don’t believe me, you can look at statistics because that’s the truth,” she says as she shares her hopes of raising $100,000,000 in an effort to help provide access to mental health resources for a “generation that desperately needs it.” But I do believe her, and she’s correct. The statistics are distressing. “We are in a time of crisis,” adds Gomez.

It was after sharing her own story, which involved disclosing her battle with lupus, the kidney transplant that followed, and later a bipolar disorder diagnosis, that Gomez found herself compelled to help others in similar positions.

“I really found such purpose and understanding,” she tells Vogue over a video call from her home in Encino, California. “Before Rare Beauty even existed, this was a dream of mine. I just didn’t know how I was going to do it. Then it happened to be Rare Beauty. From there, we created the Impact Fund.”

With the help of Sephora, which will donate 100 per cent of Rare Beauty sales towards the initiative’s fundraising effort in honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Gomez’s aim is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, while working with non-profit partners to expand access to much-needed services.

The 31-year-old’s experiences, while tumultuous, have given her the ability to support others navigating their own mental health—and for that, she’s grateful. “It wasn’t a good time,” she says of the initial confusion she felt, which resulted in what she describes as a tendency to “lash out” and “rebel” against herself.

“But I think I needed to go through that to get to where I am now. That has allowed me to relate to so many other people,” says Gomez. “I know it’s very typical to say, but the older I get, the more comfortable I am expressing myself. And now I have a better way of doing it.”

She’s quick to admit that she’s not suggesting she’s perfect, that “everything is good to go,” but Gomez does share that she feels lucky to be where she is today. On days that prove difficult, the star seeks out supportive settings.

“First, I have to get out of my room,” she explains. “I can’t stay stuck, because I do that. I tend to stay in isolation, and I don’t like it. I’ll call my 10 year old sister who has the purest, most incredible perspective on life, and sometimes just hearing her voice or having her come lay next to me will make me happy. Then other days, I just need to say it’s a bad day and that’s it,” says Gomez.

As for her advice to those facing their own uphill battle, she wants you to know she’s in your corner. “I’m not here to tell you you’re going to magically be happy one day, but I would like to be someone that stands up for people who are scared to talk about their mental health or not even sure what to do,” Gomez tells Vogue, her earnestness unmistakable.

In an effort to do just that, the Rare Impact Fund has confirmed its first Australian grantee to be Batyr, a youth founded and focused preventative mental health charity dedicated to stigma reduction and peer-to-peer education. Courtesy of the fund’s investment, Batyr will work to expand its education programs within communities across the country.

“I hope that by doing acts of service and learning who you are, and what your mind is doing, you’ll only find freedom. I hope that’s what people gain,” shares Gomez as our video call comes to an end.