Lady Gaga’s Advocacy for Mental Health

  Lady Gaga has been open about her mental health over the past few months. She mentioned in an interview that she was raped multiple times and was left pregnant... when she was only 19. Her abuser from back then was a music producer that she didn't name.  During a heartbreaking appearance on the premiere episode of "The Me You Can't See", the pop star revealed that she suffered a full total psychotic break. "A producer said to me 'take your clothes off.' I said 'no.' I left, and they told me they were going to burn all my music. They didn't stop asking me. Then I just froze... I do not want to face that person ever again," Gaga said. Gaga then went on to recall the years after she was assaulted. She went to the hospital for chronic pain. She was surprised when a psychiatrist was brought in. She was diagnosed with PTSD. Then she added, "First, I felt full-on pain. Then I went numb. Then I was sick for weeks. I realized that it was the same pain that I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant in a corner at my parents' house... because I was vomiting and sick. I was being abused, and I've been locked away in a studio for months." The 35-year old admitted that the trauma from her experience led to "a total psychotic break for years." She also had impulses to "self-harm." But now, the singer said her process of healing involves "trying to make sure I give back with that experience instead of locking it away and faking it." Gaga showed that she has serious advocacy to spread kindness and mental health awareness as she shared her thoughts during an interview with Oprah. "I take an oath as a commitment. Today with you for the next decade and maybe longer. I'm going to get the smartest scientists, doctors, psychiatrists, mathematicians, researchers, and professors in the same room together. We're going to go through each problem one by one... and we are going to solve this mental health crisis." Then she added, "I have mental health issues. I take a lot of medication to stay on board. I'm a survivor. I'm going to take all my life experiences... and I'm going to share them with the world and make it a better place." This November, Gaga is still committed to her advocacy for normalizing the conversation surrounding mental health.  She discusses kindness, mental health, and the journey to self-acceptance with a group of young people in a new short film, "The Power of Kindness." The project was spearheaded by Gaga's "Born This Way Foundation."  "Sharing your story and practicing kindness is powerful. I've been all over the world. I've met millions of young people... and my life is forever changed by their bravery and vulnerability. It's through those stories of love, joy, grief, empathy, and radical acceptance, that young people continue to show what it means to channel kindness... to themselves and others," Gaga said. The video project features Gaga and mental health expert Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble chatting with 11 young people about their mental health journeys.