There are two things of which I am completely convinced after watching the documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me”: Ms. Gomez is authentic and she’s extremely brave. I cannot fathom the guts it must take to share a personal diary like the one shown in director Alek Keshishian‘s film, especially when it gives an up close and personal look at a young woman’s steep decline in mental health. Selena’s story is raw, true, and hits hard, and this documentary examines the importance of self-care in a world that contributes high levels of stress, exhaustion, anxiety, and pressure to our mental state.
This intimate documentary spans six years of the pop star’s life, following along on her worldwide tour (which was cancelled when she had a complete breakdown), taking a look at her ongoing war with depression, and ending with her determination to help other young people who are suicidal or struggling. Gomez has become a very outspoken proponent of mental health treatment, and she works tirelessly to shed light on the subject.
By opening up about her own struggles and very dark times (the former Disney star has been diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder), she hopes to end the stigmas about mental illness. With this film, Gomez continues the discussion about mental health with a raw honesty that’s refreshing and heartbreaking. It’s powerful to listen as she explains in her own words what was going through her mind, and the tools she uses to quiet the negative thoughts that creep back in.
It’s easy to be dismissive of entertainers and not take their emotional health seriously, but the film offers an inside glimpse of what it’s really like in the life of an in-demand pop star. The documentary lets viewers experience firsthand the isolation and stress and anguish that can ride in tandem with superstardom, which can easily begin to consume a person in a fragile mental state. Gomez is one of the lucky ones because her friends, family and crew saw that something wasn’t quite right and immediately sought treatment. Others may not be so fortunate.
The film features very mature and frank conversations that are important, and it’s a terrific documentary to watch with pre-teens and teens. The subject matter is tough and the story is a sad one, but it ends with a hopeful and inspiring message. “Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me” is a powerful way to start a difficult yet crucial discussion.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 
Thanks for a truly insightful review Not being a fan of pop music, I probably would have dismissed this film as just another exploitive cash grab. However, your review makes me actually want to see this film. We all saw the horrific behavior of Brittany Spears when she “lost it”, but we didn’t really understand what she was going through until recently. Thankfully, Spears seems to have recovered. As you said, kudos to Gomez for being brave enough to put forth details of her at her worst. I look forward to seeing this flick.
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I hope you’ll check it out. It’s incredibly moving and so important to share more stories about mental health. I think this documentary will help a lot of people who watch it, which is wonderful.
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