The famous 50-year-old singer-songwriter uploaded a video on YouTube saying that she's living in the "arse end of New Jersey" in a Travelodge hotel. Her struggle with mental illness is becoming unbearable and she expressed fears about her safety, as she claims to be suicidal. She also mentioned suffering from kidney stones.
"I am making this video because I am one of millions and that should be our fking catchphrase: one of millions, one of fking millions. Why are we alone? What the fk did we do? The people who suffer from mental illness are the most vulnerable people on Earth, we can't take care of our fking selves you idiots."
"I wanted just to make a video that you would all see what the fk it's like and understand, one of millions, one of fking millions. Mental illness doesn't care who you are but worse, stigma doesn't f**king care who you are and it's stigma that is killing people, it's not the mental illness."
In the end of her video O'Connor begged viewers to take care of their mentally ill loved ones. She also advised to get to know patients in their local psychiatric facilities. "Be good and be tender to them, and visit them, and don't let them end up like me having to make pathetic f**king videos on Facebook, begging people to help them."
Mental illness is not a taboo. It's a reality and lots of people suffer from it, whether it is a severe case or something minor. Putting a stigma on those people doesn't help them deal with themselves, it only makes matters worse. Understanding and caring for them, being patient and tolerant is what mentally ill people need.
Don't be biased against mental illness!
Don't turn your back on those people!
Don't be afraid to seek help if you're one of them!