After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder circa 2010, singer/actress Demi Lovato announced a joint campaign with a slew of mental-health organizations called “Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health.” The initiative arrives just in time for Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
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“Bipolar disorder is part of my life, but it doesn’t define me,” Lovato wrote on Instagram. “For those struggling with #mentalhealth issues, it’s so important to speak up for yourself and learn how to live well. That’s why I teamed up with key advocacy groups and Sunovion to launch #BeVocalSpeakUp”
Since being diagnosed, Lovato has been raising awareness about mental health issues via a treatment scholarship program in honor of her late father, Patrick.
“My father had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well, and I watched him live a very unfortunate life because of the lack of access to treatment,” Lovato tells PEOPLE. “I just think mental illness is something people need to learn more about and the stigma needs to be taken away.”
Her father died in 2013 after years of suffering from both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
To learn more about participating in Speak Up for Mental Health, visit here. Then watch Lovato as she details her sobriety and how it’s helped her take control of her mental disorder below.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images