Bernadette Peters, recipient of the 2024 Chita Rivera Award for Lifetime Achievement,… [+] She attributes her mental health to her pets.
Getty Images
The Chita Rivera Awards, held on May 20, celebrated excellence in dance and choreography in Broadway, Off-Broadway and film. The star-studded event was attended by Kristen Chenoweth, Brooke Shields, Huey Lewis, BeBe Neuwirth and David Hyde Pierce, who presented Bernadette Peters with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Proceeds benefited the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, whose mission is to increase awareness of the performing arts while advocating for dance education and high standards of excellence.
I love musicals and celebrities as much as the next person (if not more!). The real reason I attended this amazing awards show was to ask some celebrities, “What are you doing for your mental health?” May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as a physician who sees many patients with mental health and substance use disorders, mental health is very important to me. Unfortunately, people with mental illnesses still face stigma and don't get the care they need and deserve. Impaired mental health negatively impacts functioning at home, school, and work. But the more we, especially celebrities, talk about mental health openly, honestly, and compassionately, the more likely we are to reduce stigma and improve access to care and quality of life.
How stars look after their mental health
Tony Award winner and Wicked lead actress Kristin Chenoweth is taking care of her mental health through… [+] Meditation and hot yoga: art is her “therapy.”
Getty Images
Bernadette Peters, the evening's top honoree, uses a variety of tools to stay mentally healthy: “Meditation is really important. It calms the body and it quiets the mind.” [meditation] I can't support that [enough]The Tony and Golden Globe-winning multitalented singer and actress is also an advocate for animal welfare, having co-founded Broadway Barks with Mary Tyler Moore. “Pets are beautiful. When I see a pet, it makes me smile. It makes me feel positive.”
Singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth revealed that she recently started doing hot yoga. The Wicked legend added that meditation sound baths also bring her peace. “Sometimes you just need 30 minutes to do nothing,” she said. [accompanied by] I also play chimes and sound bowls.” Art, music and dance are part of her DNA, and when I suggest that they might inform her mental health, the Tony Award winner's eyes light up. “It's my therapy. [the arts] I don't know what to do to get it all out.”
Actress, model, and author Brooke Shields has been very open about her experience with postpartum depression and growing up with a mother who was diagnosed with alcoholism. The mother of two and women's advocate believes that spending time with family and close friends helps maintain her mental health.
Norm Lewis, the legendary Broadway singer who delivered a powerful rendition of “Bui Doi” in Miss Saigon, looks after his mental health with regular meditation and prayer. He also makes sure he “eats right and sleeps right.” As a physician, I said that's perfect advice. Like Chenowith, Lewis has been candid about the impact the arts have on his mental health. “The arts are my church. It's a gift that's been given to me, and I hold on to it as best I can.”
The late Rivera's daughter, Lisa Mordente, also believes pets have a therapeutic effect. “I'll sit with my dogs and just pet them, run with them, roll around on the floor, and just be with them. They're my center.” Director and choreographer Kenny Ortega, who held Mordente's hand for support throughout the red carpet, believes in gratitude. “You just try to live with gratitude, really. It really helps me mentally, emotionally and creatively.”
Huey Lewis is hearing impaired due to Meniere's disease, but that hasn't stopped the global rock star from… [+] From working on the musical “The Heart of Rock and Roll.” Living in the fresh air of Montana has helped his mental health.
Outlook for 2024
Rock and roll star Huey Lewis hasn't let his hearing loss stop him from creating the musical The Heart of Rock and Roll, and he combines geography with his state of mind and humour. “I live in Montana. Lots of cheese, not many rats!” adds the longtime lead singer of Huey Lewis and the News. “I'm up with Mother Nature. Lots of critters. I love the outdoors.” As for the music that propelled him to global stardom, he says, “Music is a great thing. It's really uplifting, you know?”
Science-Based Mental Health Tips
So what does research show as an effective way to take care of your mental health? I have to say that the celebrities I've spoken to practice the right self-care strategies. I offer the same clinical advice to my patients: ideally 7-9 hours of sleep each night, regular physical activity, mindfulness practices like meditation, yoga, prayer, and simply doing the things you love like listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with supportive family and friends can all help nurture your mental functioning. It's also important to seek professional help through a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist if needed. Remember, there's no shame in asking for help. Personally, I do a lot of the same things as the stars I've spoken to: daily meditation, playing piano, watching TV, movies, and hockey, exercising, and of course, watching my favorite musicals on Broadway.
