Jada Pinkett Smith shocked fans when she admitted that years ago she contemplated suicide. It was something she revealed in an Instagram post that acknowledged the recent deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who both took their own lives.
“One thing I’ve learned in my life over the years is that mental health is something we should practice daily, not just when issues arise,” she wrote next to a split image of Spade and Bourdain. “We should take care of our mind and spirit in the same way we do our body. With the suicides of Kate and Anthony, it brought up feelings of when I was in such despair and had considered the same demise … often.”
But these days, the “Girl’s Trip” actress said she keeps healthy by being hyper-aware of what she views, listens to and focuses on.
“I realized the mind and heart can be extremely delicate without the foundation of a formidable spirit,” added Pinkett Smith, whose daughter Willow also admitted to battling depression. “What I eat, what I watch on TV, what music I listen to, how I care for my body, my spiritual practice, what people I surround myself with, the amount of stress I allow and so on… either contribute to or deteriorate my mental health.”
In less than one day, the actress’ post received over 130,000 likes and in the comments section, she was called everything from an “amazing positive soul” to an “inspiration.”
At the end of her message, Pinkett Smith said that she empathizes with what Spade and Bourdain went through, which is why she felt compelled to share her own story.
“Mental health is a daily practice for me. It’s a practice of deep self-love,” she wrote. “May Kate and Anthony rest in peace. Many may not understand but I do and this morning I have the deepest gratitude that I pulled through.”
Jada isn’t alone in her battle with mental health. A number of Black celebrities have admitted to battling things like depression and suicidal tendencies.
Kendrick Lamar recently said that he suffered from depression, and JAY Z spoke openly about seeing a therapist for some of the battles he’s faced.
Plus, before that, JAY’s better half Beyoncé said that she suffered from poor mental health, and at one point couldn’t even enjoy her success. “I would sit there at ceremonies and they would give me an award and I was just thinking about the next performance,” she said in 2011. “My mother was very persistent and she kept saying that I had to take care of my mental health.”
