She entered a serious depression with catatonia and was diagnosed as bipolar.
She set up a web forum to help others, it cost a lot of money and it was a stupid idea but people went along with her because of who she is. Her idea was that there would be an individual forum for every single type of depression sufferer imaginable, and from every different kind of conceivable background. The result was literally dozens if not hundreds) of individual forums one one site and nowhere near enough people to populate them.
Personally I think this forum is much better.
Psychologically I think speaking out when famous helps such people to fight stigma. Most people do not grow up wanting to be nuts, so when they suddenly suffer from mental illness it is difficult for them to incorporate it into their ego. What better way to accept something that you find completely ego dystonic than by being able to get the world to accept you for who you are.
For the rest of us we just have to make do with being stigmatised, loose friends, respect and careers.
It sounds very cynical but nevertheless is makes sense. However, I am grateful for these people who fight the stigma, we still have a long way to go to fight it, but it is a start at least, and I hope more people with mental illness speak up and try to fight in this way.
