Lady Gaga opens up about mental health, encourages kindness

Lady Gaga gave a moving speech at an award ceremony connected to her and her mother Cynthia Germanotta’s work with charity, Born this Way Foundation this weekend in California.

The singer, songwriter and actress said she has struggled for a long time with her mental health, which she has kept both public and private. “I truly believe that secrets keep you sick,” she said.

Born this Way Foundation was founded in 2012 with the goal of creating a kinder and braver world. According to its website, the foundation is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world.

“We bring people together to have real, honest conversations and to be kind. Kindness is not an afterthought to our work. It is the driving power for everything we do. It is the lens we view every challenge through. It is framing the way we put everything around every possible solution. To me, almost every problem you can think of can be solved with kindness. At least it could be made better”, Gaga said.

“Kindness has a soft undertone. Sometimes people think it is weak. It is tremendously powerful. It can change the way that we view each other, the way that we view our communities and the way that we work. Even the way that we feel about ourselves, by being kinder to ourselves. We need more kindness in the world".

The Born This Way Foundation leverages rigorous academic research and authentic partnerships in order to provide young people with kinder communities, improved mental health resources, and more positive online and offline environments.

Cynthia received the Global Change Maker Award at the Children Mending Hearts’ 10th annual Empathy Rocks awards for her work with the foundation. Lady Gaga thanked her mother for supporting her through her mental health challenges. "Thank you, Mom, for not being afraid of my darkest thoughts and for doing what many don't realize goes very far: just holding my hand and running an organization that helps hold the hands of others and join the hands of others. I love you. Suicidal ideation feels like a spell, and we have to have empathy. Be kind and help each other break the spell and live and thrive”.