Demi Lovato on Mental Health: Singer Says Bipolar Disorder is Part of Her Life

Former Disney star Demi Lovato is the new spokesperson for a mental health campaign. She has recently opened up about her struggles and journey in learning and coping with her mental health issues.

According to the "Skyscraper" singer, mental illness is "not something anyone should be ashamed of."

Lovato is currently helping the launch of the initiative Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health. The campaign was organized by major mental health advocacy groups: The JED Foundation, Mental Health America, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the National Council for Behavioral Health.

According to the New York Daily News, Lovato found out that she had bipolar disorder while she was dealing with other problems i.e. drug abuse, self-harm, and eating disorders.

On the campaign website, the "Camp Rock" star shared how she was relieved when she got the diagnosis. From there on, she took on the journey of coping and getting help from professionals.

"Getting a diagnosis was kind of a relief. It helped me start to make sense of the harmful things I was doing to cope with what I was experiencing. Now I had no choice but to move forward and learn how to live with it, so I worked with my healthcare professional and tried different treatment plans until I found what works for me," the singer dished.

"Living well with bipolar disorder is possible, but it takes patience, it takes work and it is an ongoing process. The reality is that you're not a car that goes into a shop and gets fixed right away. Everyone's process and treatment plan may be different," she added.

Lovato also shared that she is thankful and protective of the life she is living today. She reaches out to those who are going through mental health issues to persevere because "things can get better."

"You are worthy of more and there are people who can help. Asking for help is a sign of strength," her message concluded.

Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness is a disorder characterized by unstable mood swings, activity levels, energy and motivation to do daily tasks. According to the NIMH, there is no singular cause of the disorder, but rather, many factors can contribute to it.

Just this March 2015, Lovato celebrated three years of sobriety with boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama.

Valderrama posted a sweet message for Lovato via Instagram, reports CBS News.

"Today, we lay another stone together," Valderrama wrote. "It is now 3 years since you said: I am more important than any past, demon, disorder or addiction..Where you decided that YOUR life was worth living while loving yourself. And I'm sure glad you did."

The "That 70's Show" star continued that he is "proud and honored" to be able to see Lovato triumph to what she is today.

The "Heart Attack" singer also took to Instagram to share her new campaign, ET Online reports. She said:

"Bipolar disorder is part of my life, but it doesn't define me. For those struggling with #mentalhealth issues, it's so important to speak up for yourself and learn how to live well," Lovato wrote. "That's why I teamed up with key advocacy groups and Sunovion to launch #BeVocalSpeakUp."