Lili Reinhart has never been afraid to speak up about her mental health battles.

Less than a year ago, the star of Netflix’s Riverdale opened up about her body dysmorphia issues – and blasted critics who say she can’t embrace body positivity because of her size.

“Mental illness gets worse when people say that you don’t have a right to feel the way you do,” she said. “That’s where we are failing.

“Do not encourage this behavior. It is destructive. More destructive than you’ll ever realise. You may not understand someone’s insecurity- but respect it.”

With this in mind, we weren’t surprised when Reinhart decided to open about her decision to seek professional treatment for her mental illness through therapy. 

Addressing her fans directly via Instagram Stories, Reinhart announced that she had that returned to therapy after taking a break from treatment.

“Friendly reminder for anyone who needs to hear it: Therapy is never something to feel ashamed of,” she wrote.

“Everyone can benefit from seeing a therapist. Doesn’t matter how old or ‘proud’ you’re trying to be.”

Reinhart continued: “I’m 22. I have anxiety and depression… and today I started therapy again.

“And so the journey of self-love begins for me.”

Reinhart finished with a note of encouragement for her followers, as she urged them to be open and honest with themselves about seeking help for mental illness.

“We are all human,” she said. “And we all struggle. Don’t suffer in silence…

“Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help.”

Reinhart is by far from the first woman in the spotlight to open up about seeking therapy. Indeed, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Kristen Bell, Emma Stone and Rita Ora are among those who have chosen to break the taboo that surrounds mental health, addressing their quest for mental wellness in a candid and relatable fashion – and encouraged others to do the same.

As Frozen’s Bell put it: “In the medical community, you would never deny a diabetic his insulin. Ever. But for some reason when someone needs a serotonin inhibitor, they’re immediately crazy.

“It’s a very interesting double standard that I don’t often have the ability to talk about, but I certainly feel no shame about.”

It is, perhaps, unsurprising that so many mental health professionals have praised those in the public eye for going public with their personal struggles.

“Allowing people to speak to their own experience can help reduce the stigma around mental health struggles,” Jamison Monroe Jr., founder and CEO of the Newport Academy (a mental health and addiction treatment centre for young adults), explained to HuffPost US.

Monroe continued: “It’s important for public figures to continue to talk about their experiences, good and bad… reducing stigma around addiction and mental health issues is extremely important in making societal changes.”

Image: Getty