Zoe Saldaña opened up about the mental health struggles she kept to herself for years. The actress recalled battling mental health issues alone in her 20s because of fear and pride, but seeking support later helped her navigate those challenges.
Zoe Saldaña recalls struggling with her mental health alone in her 20s
Zoe Saldaña, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, opened up about her struggles with mental health. She said, “I think it comes in waves. There are seasons where I feel ahead of it, and I feel capable. And then there are times where I fall behind because I’m tired or really stressed. It’s life. Life tends to either get ahead of you or be behind you, and I’m always trying to kind of read the room, you know?”
Saldaña revealed that she struggled during her 20s and embarked on a journey of self-discovery in her 30s.
She said, “The challenges that were really hard to get through were the ones that I battled alone without any help, either because of pride or an inability to speak up or fear. And then the challenges that I feel like I was able to navigate easily and heal properly were the ones where I asked for support and a community rallied around me.”
The actress admitted that learning to be transparent about her emotional state helped her. She had developed the habit of thinking that if she said she was fine, everything would be fine.
Saldaña said, “I still do it, but I just have to be honest with myself. When I’m not fine, I have to try to muster the courage to say it. To tell everyone around me, ‘Hey, I’m not fine, I really need your support, but this is how I feel like you can help.’ ”
The Lioness actress is working with Lancôme and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) for the brand’s “I’m fine” campaign.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day, the actress is encouraging people to take care of their mental health and check in on each other.
