Demi Lovato Encourages Teens To Share Mental Health Struggles

Demi Lovato is sharing an important message about mental health for teenagers. On Thursday (May 18), the 30-year-old singer-songwriter opened up to Today about mental health and the importance of openly discussing it. Lovato has a long history of depression, addiction, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. She admitted that her public relapses have allowed her to become an open book about recovery in hopes of helping anyone in similar situations.

"The very first time that I went to treatment was when I was 18," Lovato told the outlet. "I went from my eating disorder, and I went for self-harm and emotional issues. And when I came out with that experience, I was faced with the decision of either 'keep your mouth shut and not say anything' or 'share your experience strength and hope with another person in hopes that it affects them in a positive way.'"

Lovato chose the latter, as she wanted to help others. The "Cool For The Summer" singer admitted she wished she had support when she was 13 years old, struggling with an eating disorder and starving herself. "I wanted somebody in the public eye to say that 'Hey, this is what I've gone through, and you don't have to choose that route.'"

Demi told the outlet that she wants people to know that "talking to people and asking for help is more than OK and is absolutely what you should do." The musician empathizes with teenagers and understands the importance of getting early help. During those adolescent years, Lovato says teens feel the pressure from beauty standards, as she did.

"When you're looking at images of people with perfect bodies, you start to look at yourself, and you start to pick yourself apart," the singer said. "It's hard to grow up in a world where that's right in front of your face and at your fingertips at all times." Speaking of the time she was growing up in Hollywood, the "look" then was "very, very, very thin." That had a "really negative impact" on her mental health, which she believes fed into her eating disorder.

Now, Lovato told the outlet that she's in a "really good place" with her health and is channeling her past struggles into new music. "I don't want to paint the facade that everything is totally perfect and fine," she said. As we previously reported, Lovato has spoken about the challenge of writing a rock album when she is happy. Mental health is a battle, the artist admits, and she still has bad days. "I realized that even to this day, no matter how happy I might feel and seem. I'm human, and it's okay to still struggle even when you're in a great place."

Demi Lovato celebrates their last year of their 20's today, and they've endured and overcame so many things in their 29 years.

Demi began their career on the children's television series Barney & Friends in 2002, moving to Disney channel movie series Camp Rock as Mitchie Torres and the star of television series Sonny with a Chance.

"I lost my virginity in a rape,” Lovato revealed in their documentary Dancing With The Devil during their days at Disney at age 15. Lovato has also been candid about their struggles with bulimia, self-harm and their drug overdose that almost cost them their life.

Lovato's "California Sober" now, meaning they abstain from all drugs except marijuana and certain psychedelics, and seems happier and healthier than ever.

We'll start off with an old one, with Lovato's 2012 "Skyscraper" performance. Their voice sounds so fragile yet powerful

Joe Jonas accompanied Lovato's performance of "Stone Cold" on the piano during their 2016 tour Future Now, offering his voice in harmony.

Lovato got sensual during their performance of "Body Say" on their 2016 Honda Civic Tour: Future Now, setting the mood with red lights.

From their 2016 Live On Honda Civic Tour: Future Now, Lovato's performance of "Heart Attack" was upgraded with the use of drums and guitar, not to mention the backup singers perfectly harmonizing with the singer.

Lovato performed "Sorry Not Sorry" many times in 2017, but their performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was the greatest. The energy, voice and bold red outfit embodied the "sorry not sorry" persona best of all.

Lovato's 2016 rendition of "Silent Night" is a soulful masterpiece perfect to add to your holiday playlist.

Demi Lovato and Marshmello performed "OK Not To Be OK" for a fundraising event to aid independent music venues at risk of closing their doors permanently last year, as the pandemic forced many venues to shut their doors for good.

Another amazing live performance from their Los Angeles premiere of the Dancing With The Devil documentary, Lovato's powerful voice singing "Anyone" begs for anyone to come to their aid during the darkest of times.

Performed live on TikTok from this April, Demi is joined by a live band singing 2017's "Tell Me You Love Me" from her album, Pop Royalty. She sounds more powerful and soulful than ever in the four-minute video.

Written for her 19-year-old half-sister, Madison Lee De La Garza, Lovato dedicated the song at the start of the Demi Lovato: Dancing With The Devil documentary premiere in Los Angeles earlier this year. "I tried to protect you, I want to direct you to keep you from my mistakes," Lovato sings in the emotional song. When Lovato was in the ICU, she asked Madison who she was because she was unable to see.

Another beautiful stripped-down performance from her Live on TikTok series, Demi showcases the beauty of her powerful voice with the song "The Art Of Starting Over" from her latest album, Dancing With The Devil... The Art Of Starting Over.

Demi totally made her cover of Tears For Fears' 1982 "Mad World" entirely her own during her Live on TikTok series. Fans praised Lovato in the comments section with one writing, "i might be delusional here... but her voice now has certain qualities to it that i've never heard in it before, even just two years ago. some sort of tenderness that i just can't put my finger on. fascinating. fascinatingly beautiful."

In a powerful and touching performance to celebrate the release of the documentary, Simply Complicated, Demi Lovato sang with just a piano their 2015 hit, "Father," off their album Confident. Patrick Lovato, Demi's father, passed away in 2013 after years of battle with cancer. Patrick and Demi's mother, Dianna, divorced in 1994. The singer had been estranged from her father since 2007.

Performing live at the Demi Lovato: Dancing With The Devil documentary premiere in Los Angeles, California, Demi belted out a powerful performance from her most powerful song to date, "Dancing With The Devil."