Kerry Washington Details Past Eating Disorder & Suicidal Ideation

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Content warning: This article includes details of eating disorders and suicidal ideation. 

Kerry Washington isn’t shying away from her history. 

The actress from Scandal recently opened up about her past struggles with an eating disorder, and what motivated her to finally get help.

Kerry explained to Alex Cooper in a recent Call Her Daddy interview that she realized she was experiencing a serious mental health crisis. She shared that what finally motivated her to seek help for her eating disorder wasn’t the food or her eating habits, but rather the fact that she was having suicidal thoughts.

She explained that she realized she was using food and exercise as a way to avoid dealing with her life. She understood she was trying to escape her feelings and needed to find a way to truly live. She was deeply worried about how harshly she was treating herself, and felt trapped in a cycle where causing herself more pain seemed like the only way to cope with the pain she already felt.

The 49-year-old explained that because eating disorders deeply affect every aspect of a person’s life, her recovery process needed to be completely new and different from anything she’d tried before.

I’ll never forget it. It was the very first time I ever prayed. I was completely consumed by my eating – or not eating – and calories. Everything in my life revolved around it. It really hit a breaking point when I was in college, it was just awful. That’s when I realized I needed help and finally went to treatment. It was terrifying, honestly, getting down on my knees and admitting I couldn’t handle it on my own.

I was so relieved when she finally got the help she needed. It wasn’t just one thing, but a whole approach – she started seeing a therapist one-on-one, joined a support group, and finally had a chance to really talk about what she was going through with a professional. Plus, she began working with a nutritionist to focus on her overall health. It was amazing to see her take those steps.

Kerry remembered times when people dismissed her concerns about her eating, and she offered advice to anyone struggling with their relationship with food. She encouraged them to prioritize their health and well-being.

She explained that if you’re having a hard time, it’s important to trust your instincts. If you feel you need help, don’t let anyone dismiss your feelings. And if you’re a parent, trust your instincts and seek help for your children when you need to.

As a long-time admirer of Kerry’s work, I was really struck by something they said recently. They emphasized that if you’re going through a tough time with food or your body image, please don’t brush it off. It could be something serious, like an eating disorder, or just disordered eating – it exists on a spectrum. But the most important thing is this: don’t suffer in silence! Reach out for help if you need it. You deserve support, and you don’t have to live with that pain. Don’t let it take over your life.

Currently, the actress from Imperfect Women is actively involved with Equip, a company she’s invested in. Equip provides comprehensive support and resources for people recovering from eating disorders.

For her, it’s been extremely rewarding: “I’m very proud of that work.”

For more stars who have been candid about their mental health journeys, read on.  

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He stated he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeking therapy, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was pregnant with their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared a potential mental health crisis he might not be able to recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl recently shared his struggles with body image, explaining that he experienced what he called “body dysmorphia” as a young actor.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they deeply disliked their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then entered a phase where he actively sought to improve his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive would lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable, especially as he was emerging from a period of depression and loneliness.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that overcoming his disappointments and personal struggles enabled him to return to his work with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying on The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life. Food was always my way of coping, and I took it to extremes.”

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to her diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

Back when she was 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She told Bon Appétit in 2017 that these habits were more effective than any medication like Ritalin.

Okay, so she gets it, you know? She totally admitted she’s struggled with food and how she sees herself – it’s so real and brave of her to say! But it’s not like she’s giving up! She’s actually working on getting better, truly healing, and she’s doing it the healthy way, fueling her body with amazing things. It just makes me love her even more, honestly!

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist frequently talks about safeguarding her well-being, like blocking negativity online, and often offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked what advice she’d give someone struggling with their mental health, she told Vogue that patience is key. She emphasized being kind to herself and not rushing any decisions. She found that by waiting, difficult feelings eventually lessened.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to decide what’s more difficult: avoiding the virus itself or dealing with the resulting depression. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, which has become a refuge for her when she’s feeling overwhelmed. She says it’s really the only place she feels safe right now.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and shared her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her mood quite inconsistent. This is why she was drawn to get involved with this particular cause. She hopes to help people feel less isolated and understood.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to discuss their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and feelings of sadness – it doesn’t matter who you are. It took me a while to understand this, but it’s important not to be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, in particular, often keep their emotions bottled up, but remember you’re not alone in this.

I’ve always admired Prince Harry for his honesty, and I think his decision to speak openly about going to therapy was incredibly brave. He really helped change the conversation around mental health, and it meant a lot to me to hear him say, in his interview with the Telegraph, that talking about it makes you realize you’re definitely not alone – that so many others are going through similar things. It felt like a huge weight lifted for a lot of us, knowing we were part of a ‘big club’ of people seeking help.

The actress from Empire has openly discussed her experiences with depression and emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help. She shared with Variety that talking to a therapist is essential for her to cope.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment using MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with the effects of both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any stage fright for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her realize how much she thrives on, and even needs, that intense, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

I realized I wanted to stop taking birth control, and it felt like a way to break free from expectations of what it meant to be a woman. It might sound a little out there, but I honestly felt like I was no longer confined by those traditional ideas. And that freedom? It was incredibly liberating and allowed me to explore who I really was.

Okay, so back in middle school, things were really tough. I was battling some seriously awful anxiety and depression, and honestly, if it hadn’t been for my family and my therapist, I don’t know where I’d be right now. They completely saved me. I shared this on Instagram a while back, and I really mean it: reaching out for help is the hardest, but most important thing you can do. Seriously, you are so, so valuable, more than you could ever realize.

The singer behind “What He Didn’t Do” recently opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the Dumb Blonde podcast with Bunnie Xo in August 2025 that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I learned to suppress my feelings and cope on my own. But a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy to understand what was going on. I discovered I’ve been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, not just recently in 2020.

Okay, so I’ve been following Kristen Bell for years, and honestly, it’s amazing how open she is about dealing with her mental health. She doesn’t just talk about it in big speeches – she shares stuff on her Instagram stories too! It’s like, she’s so real and doesn’t hide anything, and I really appreciate that. It’s been super helpful to see how she manages things, and she’s been talking about her strategies for ages now.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she shared with Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, consciously focusing on ten positive aspects of life for every negative one, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has bravely shared her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken struggle for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her goal was to let others know that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she finally can. Now, she’s able to be happy and content when she’s by herself.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a joke on Twitter about her own therapy. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to live with constant pain, and it is possible to heal from trauma. She acknowledged she had a lot of work ahead of her, but said simply recognizing that healing is possible is a good first step.

Oh my gosh, she’s just so real, you know? She doesn’t hide anything! She’s talked so openly about everything she’s gone through – battling addiction, finding sobriety, dealing with her mental health… and it’s all woven into her music! It’s like she’s pouring her heart out, and it’s just… incredible. It makes her songs so much more powerful because you feel everything with her.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Remember, if you’re struggling, life has its challenges, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has bravely tackled mental health both on screen, like in her role as Rue in the show Euphoria, and in her personal life.

Zendaya has spoken about experiencing anxiety after a 2013 appearance on Ellen, when her microphone malfunctioned. She shared this on an app she used to have. Over time, she’s found ways to cope with these feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme highs and lows that could be debilitating for weeks.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her mental health challenges private for a long time, both when in the public eye and when not. Speaking at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award, she explained that she believes keeping things secret actually makes it harder to heal.

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2026-03-18 17:51