Depression for many people carries a stigma that prevents them from seeking the treatment necessary to help combat this mental illness. But those suffering from depression are in good company; many famous and successful people have struggled with this disease. Their fame and willingness to be open about their depression struggles helps remove the stigma of the disease and can help those with depression seek help.
Mike Wallace
This iconic newsman, who has been on "60 Minutes" since it started in 1968, has struggled with clinical depression. The diagnosis came about in 1984, after Wallace was sued for libel. While this very successful and revered journalist still struggles with depressive episodes, he treats them successfully with a combination of antidepressant medication and therapy.
Wallace went public with his diagnosis on a late-night TV show, thinking that people who watch TV late at night are likely suffering from sleeplessness, one of the symptoms of depression. He thought his own life might be helpful in aiding others with the illness in seeking help and seeing that those with depression can survive and even thrive.
Jim Carrey
This very funny comedian has been open about his darker, serious side. He has starred in comedies, such as "Yes Man" and "Liar, Liar," as well as taken on more dramatic roles, such as in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
He has struggled with depression and talked on television with Larry King of CNN about using Prozac for limited periods, though he eschews its long-term use. For his management of depression, Prozac masks the deeper root of the issue, so it's value is only for the shorter-term, he says. He states that by using supplements he has been able to successfully manage this disease.
Lorraine Bracco
Lorraine Bracco is perhaps best-known for her portrayal of a psychiatrist treating the head of the mob group in "The Sopranos." She's been involved in a wide variety of acting projects, including major motion pictures such as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Goodfellas."
Her depression was diagnosed in the 1990s, while starring in "The Sopranos." She made a commercial for Zoloft, an antidepressant drug, as part of her public statement of how depression can be intermingled with success. She claims that medication and therapy have been critical in bringing her out of a depressive fog and helping her appreciate her success. She writes openly of her life and struggles with relationships and success in her memoir "On the Couch."
