Jenna Dewan and Kyle Richards are being open about motherhood and mental health.
At the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Friday for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Westside Los Angeles’ annual Mental Health Gala, the actresses spoke to PEOPLE about the significance of being open about mental health struggles as mothers.
The anxiety has plagued me since I was about 12 years old, Richards, 54, told PEOPLE. “I’ve been talking about this for years. I believe I experienced my first panic attack. I’ve always been very honest about that because I find that making jokes and laughing about it actually helps me and makes me feel better. In any case, the conversation was very open. “.
And I’ve always told my daughters, “Talk to a therapist type if you’re ever struggling, or you’re not handling something as well as you think you could be, and you don’t feel to talk to your dad or to me.”.
“Our family is very pro-therapy, and I’m grateful that my girls are very strong and united,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star continued. But it’s something that, in reality, you really need to keep an eye on. “.
Dewan, 42, told PEOPLE that “everything with stigma is a big thing” because “I have a lot of mental health issues in my family and our history.”. I have thus witnessed my family members’ struggles. It seems to be surrounded by a lot of shame. I frequently see people who refuse to behave properly or accept needed assistance. Therefore, something needs to be changed. “.
“More discussion is necessary.
The Step Up star continued, “It needs to be something that is openly okay to talk about and get help for. And one of the primary methods, in my opinion, is talking about it. You don’t have to struggle alone if you draw attention to this. “.
Additionally, as a mother, you want to do everything within your power to maintain a line of communication with both your children and yourself. “Therefore, I do believe that at times in our history, we have skirted these issues. This is life, in all honesty.
Here it is.
In order to remove that, we must. “.
With her husband Mauricio Umansky, Richards has three daughters: Portia, 15, Alexia Simone, 26, and Sophia Kylie, 23. She and her ex-husband Guraish Aldjufrie are the parents of Farrah Brittany Aldjufrie, 34, who is also their daughter.
Along with co-parenting daughter Everly, 9, with her ex-husband Channing Tatum, Dewan also shares son Callum, 3, with him.
Text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 if you or someone you know needs mental health assistance to speak with a trained crisis counselor.
