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Selena Gomez: Connecting the Dots Between Her Music and Mental Health Advocacy

For many fans, listening to Selena Gomez’s songs is like opening a window into her life. Every chorus and verse seems to hint at struggles beyond fame and fortune, and…

"Emilia Perez" Red Carpet - The 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival
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For many fans, listening to Selena Gomez’s songs is like opening a window into her life. Every chorus and verse seems to hint at struggles beyond fame and fortune, and fans have noticed a clear connection between her music and her advocacy for mental health. Her work shows that vulnerability is not weakness, and expressing emotion can actually be powerful.

From Personal Challenges to Public Awareness

Selena’s advocacy stems from her own experiences with health challenges and mental health struggles. Diagnosed with lupus in 2014, she underwent a kidney transplant and faced both physical and emotional obstacles. Later, she experienced a psychotic episode and a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Instead of hiding these experiences, she made them part of her public story, showing fans that mental health struggles are human and that sharing them can be empowering.

Her 2022 song “My Mind & Me” captures the essence of this approach. The lyrics and tone reflect the ups and downs of living with mental health challenges, making listeners feel seen and understood. Fans recognize the song as both a personal confession and an invitation to connect with others who may be struggling.

Documentary as a Lens Into Her Life

The documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me gives fans an intimate view of her life over six years. From her rise to fame to her personal challenges, the film highlights her resilience and her willingness to speak openly about mental health. Critics praised the documentary for its honesty and its role in destigmatizing mental illness, and fans appreciated seeing a side of Selena that goes beyond the music and red carpets.

The film doesn’t shy away from difficult moments, which helps viewers understand the real-life complexities behind fame. For fans, it reinforces the connection between Selena’s music and her advocacy, showing that her art and her mission are deeply intertwined.

Advocacy Beyond Music and Film

Selena’s efforts extend beyond songs and documentaries. She co-founded Wondermind, a platform promoting mental fitness, offering articles, podcasts, and other resources to encourage self-care and conversation around mental health. Her makeup brand, Rare Beauty, also launched the “Make a Good Call” campaign, encouraging people to reach out to trusted friends or family members when they are struggling. Both projects demonstrate her commitment to helping fans translate awareness into action.

Music as a Bridge

Songs like “Lose You to Love Me” and “Anxiety,” a collaboration with Julia Michaels, further reinforce her connection to mental health advocacy. These tracks explore themes like self-discovery, emotional struggle, and coping, offering fans a sense of solidarity. Listening to Selena’s music becomes a shared experience, a reminder that nobody has to face mental health challenges alone.

For fans, her songs act as more than entertainment. They are a bridge to understanding emotions, starting conversations, and finding a community of people who feel the same things. The music is relatable, approachable, and carries a subtle message of hope.

Inspiring Fans to Open Up

Selena’s willingness to share her personal story has inspired countless fans to embrace vulnerability and prioritize mental wellness. By connecting her personal struggles with her art and advocacy, she shows that seeking help is a sign of strength, and that it’s possible to turn challenges into purpose.

Fans can see the pattern: her songs, her documentary, her platform initiatives, and even her public appearances all highlight the importance of mental health awareness. For many, this makes her work feel authentic and relatable. It’s no wonder that her music and advocacy resonate so strongly with teens and young adults who may face their own challenges.

Selena Gomez demonstrates that mental health is not something to hide. Through music, film, and community-focused projects, she has turned her personal journey into a source of connection, comfort, and empowerment for millions of fans.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.