How Britney Spears Put a Spotlight on Mental Health

Poor Britney, and I don’t say that in jest. Like many, I had pretty much written Brit Brit off as another pop tart celebrity craving attention. With the Vegas residency and her continued success, I assumed her father must’ve done a really good job reeling her in. She seemed to have gotten her shit together.

Then I watched “Framing Britney Spears”, the New York Times documentary on her conservatorship. I immediately joined the #FreeBritney movement. I thought: “This poor girl! Debilitating harassment by the paparazzi; humiliated by the press and her douche bag ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, and her every move scrutinized from a very young age, it’s no wonder she went a little nuts!”

When I learned more about her conservatorship, like many who are not considered one of her super fans, I was in utter shock. We started paying attention. When Britney finally found the courage to speak up in court about her plight and accounts of abuse, trauma, and being forced against her will, all she wanted was to be believed, especially since her previous attempts had been silenced.

Then she revealed what was one of the most profound revelations when it comes to mental health: Pretending everything is OK because you fear no one will believe you and you will be shunned and shamed.