Lili Reinhart Reveals How Demi Lovato Inspired Her To Talk About Mental Health

Lili Reinhart has opened up about how influential Demi Lovato has been in her life in terms of encouraging her to open up about her mental health struggles. 

The Riverdale actor has cited Demi’s openness in discussing bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and eating disorders as being something that had a huge impact on her growing up in middle and high school.

Let's get checking out an update from MTV News...

In an interview with Ocean Drive, Lili explained that Demi was the first person in her memory who really opened up a discussion around mental health: "I didn't have someone who was talking about it. I remember being in middle and high school and hearing Demi Lovato speak up about her mental illness and that was comforting.

“But I wanted more people to stand up. I needed more people to relate to. I was like, all these people can't be so happy, can they? It was kind of like this unrealistic picture that was painted in front of me of all these happy, happy people, successful people, beautiful people."

Pointing out that being on a CW show and getting invites to the coolest events in Hollywood doesn’t protect anyone from a mental health disorder, Lili said: "And even now I'm on this wonderful show. I have money in my bank account.

“I have my own apartment. I have friends. I still go through and experience depression. You don't have to be ashamed of it. You don't need to ever justify the way you feel," she pointed out. 

And revealing that she hopes to inspire a whole new generation to tackle the topic of depression, Lili said: “I did a signing [at a] convention in Philadelphia and a couple of girls came up to me and told me with tears in their eyes: ‘You really helped me.’

"I had no idea that the words I’m putting out there in the world were connecting with these young people, beautiful people."

It just goes to show how influential it can be for celebs to go public with their personal experiences.