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9 Black Celebrities You May Not Know Suffer From Mental Illness

Chris Brown

Earlier this year,  R&B star Chris Brown was diagnosed bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, E! News reported.

On February 28, 2014, E! News obtained the singer’s probation officer’s report that included a letter from a residential treatment facility attributing Brown’s aggression and legal troubles to mental health issues. The statement below reads:

“Mr. Brown will… require close supervision by his treating physician in order to ensure his bipolar mental health condition remains stable,” the letter states. “It is not uncommon for patients with post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II to use substances to self-medicate their biochemical mood swings and trauma triggers. … Mr. Brown became aggressive and acted out physically due to his untreated mental health disorder, severe sleep deprivation, inappropriate self-medicating and untreated PTSD.”

Lark Voorhies

In 2012, former Saved By The Bell star Lark Voorhies’ mother announced that her daughter is “mentally ill.”

During an interview with People magazine, Voorhies’ mother, Tricia, said that her daughter was battling bipolar disorder, which causes severe mood swings between mania and depression. “There are things that have traumatized her, Tricia said. “I care deeply about my daughter and I want her to resume her life.”

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