20 years of anxiety attacks: Jonah Hill breaks silence, skips press tours for mental health

Mental Health Above Fame, Shuns Public Events for Anxiety Management

In 2022, renowned actor Jonah Hill made a groundbreaking statement. He chose to step away from public events and press tours to safeguard his mental health. Hill candidly shared an open letter expressing his tumultuous journey with anxiety attacks that spanned over two decades.

A Glimpse into the Mental Health Journey of Jonah Hill

Hill used his directorial talents to explore his mental health struggles in the documentary 'Stutz,' which, as reported by Rolling Stone, provided therapy tools for public use in an entertaining format. However, the actor revealed that he would not be promoting the film at the prestigious festival where it premiered, nor would he engage with the press.

"Through this journey of self-discovery within the film, I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public-facing events," Hill wrote in his letter.

An Honest Account of Mental Health Advocacy

Not one to sugarcoat the realities of his situation, Hill admitted, "If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film."

Hill acknowledged his privilege of being able to take time off and pledged to normalize discussions around mental health. "With this letter and with Stutz, I’m hoping to make it more normal for people to talk and act on this stuff," Hill said, hoping to inspire others to take active steps towards improving their mental well-being.

Hill's open letter did more than announce his withdrawal from public events. It sparked conversations about the toll of public scrutiny on mental health, proving that even stars grapple with personal battles.

The actor ended his letter on a hopeful note: "I hope the work will speak for itself, and I’m grateful to my collaborators, my business partners, and to all reading this for your understanding and support."

While Jonah Hill took a backseat from public events, he continued his creative journey. The actor co-wrote and starred in the Netflix film 'You People', featuring Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Molly Gordon, Mike Epps, and Mia Long. As his letter stated, the work indeed spoke for itself, reverberating a powerful message about prioritizing mental health.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.