In a social media age, mental health and “self-care” have become rhetorically captivating sound bites. Yet despite a seeming greater dialogue surrounding the importance of mental health and taking care of one’s self, the research suggests that mental illness continues to be stigmatized in the culture. Indeed, the swift backlash musician Chappell Roan has received for canceling two festival performances in order to take a step back from the spotlight and take care of her mental health brings this issue to the forefront.

The trolling and harassment Roan has received on social media platforms demonstrate that the prioritization of mental health seen in the culture is simply lip service when viewed against the reality of what happens if or when a celebrity demonstrates their emotional or psychological vulnerability to the public. In fact, contemporary research has reported a mismatch between the public’s perception of mental health and the campaigns that promote mental health awareness in an effort to reduce stigma (Pavlova & Berkers, 2022). Stigma is defined as the disgrace or shame associated with a particular dimension of a person’s self, such as having a mental illness diagnosis (Aalai, 2024). Indeed, stigma has been identified as a significant barrier to seeking help for individuals who are suffering mentally (Aalai, 2024).

Pavlova & Berkers (2022) find that media portrayals of mental health continue to be sensationalized and framed in such a way that stigma is reinforced. This is particularly........

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