Selena Gomez offers an incredibly raw, incredibly honest examination of her life in the powerful documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me. Gomez’s appreciation of her fans is evident throughout the 90-minute film, and yet it isn’t necessary to approach My Mind and Me with any knowledge of her life and career to be impressed with what the pop star and philanthropist has overcome.
Brave and authentic: two words that describe both the documentary and Gomez. It takes guts for anyone to open up and expose mental and physical struggles to complete strangers. Add fame and worldwide recognition to the mix, and the idea of going public with health issues would be overwhelming. The documentary addresses how Gomez’s struggles were often horribly misunderstood in the media, and how her suffering was fodder for the tabloids. Yet despite everything, Gomez was determined to help others by sharing her struggles with mental health.
The film spans a six-year period and addresses how body issues, self-doubt, depression, and a myriad of other issues left the talented artist questioning when who she was would be good enough.
The pressure to be perfect and a very public breakup with Justin Bieber affected her health, and battling lupus while dealing with incredibly stressful situations took a toll. 55 days into her “Revival” concert tour, Gomez had a mental breakdown and canceled the remaining dates. And, of course, that very private issue played out publicly.
Gomez told her assistant she didn’t want to live, and it was only after getting professional help and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2019 that she was able to understand why she felt so out of control. In the documentary, Gomez admits she didn’t want to enter a mental health hospital, but she also didn’t want to be trapped inside her mind anymore.
Initially, Gomez didn’t understand how to cope with the diagnosis. Part of the process that allowed her to handle life post-diagnosis was learning everything she could about bipolar disorder. Understanding there was a legitimate medical reason for how she felt helped quiet the voices in her head.
Gomez confirmed her diagnosis in interviews in 2020 and uses her celebrity status to help others, becoming an advocate for people dealing with mental health issues.
Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me does show Gomez in happier moments – returning home, visiting her old school, and hanging with her BFF/cousin – but the documentary from director Alex Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare) is at its best when Gomez uses her platform to address the importance of self-care and to fight the stigma of mental illness.
Gomez has a valuable story to share, and My Mind and Me allows audiences an opportunity to peek behind the curtain at a young woman who was fortunate enough to make it through the darkness thanks to a strong support system and mental health professionals. If the documentary prompts even one person to reach out for help, then it’s accomplished what it needs to do.
GRADE: B
Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
