Psychologists are starting to talk publicly about their own mental illnesses – and patients can benefit

Mental health professionals who have experienced mental illness have much to offer to their patients. Bulat Silvia/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

From sports and entertainment celebrities like Simone Biles, Ariana Grande and Ryan Reynolds to everyday social media users on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, more people are talking publicly about mental health.

Yet both students and professionals across fields have long been advised that talking openly about their own mental health experiences risks negative judgments from co-workers and supervisors, which can potentially damage their careers. Ironically, even professionals in mental health fields are advised to conceal their own experiences with mental illness.