Mental health is an increasingly troubling issue in this day and age, and as well all know it's completely non-discriminatory between the average person in the street and the rich and famous.
As if to prove the point, Kanye West has now stepped forward to confirm that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
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Kanye has long been known for his erratic behaviour, but fans have been increasingly worried after a string of worrisome events in 2018.
While he opened up about the breakdown he suffered in 2016, when he was involuntarily hospitalised in Los Angeles, there was also a much-critisiced interview for TMZ in May where gave the opinion that slavery sounded like 'a choice' for slaves, outraging millions of people.
To the media trying to demonize my husband let me just say this... your commentary on Kanye being erratic & his tweets being disturbing is actually scary. So quick to label him as having mental health issues for just being himself when he has always been expressive is not fair
Speculation gathered pace that the rap megastar had been afflicted by mental health difficulties, but while his wife Kim Kardashian took to Twitter to distance him from mental health, Kanye has now addressed the matter personally.
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"I'm so blessed and so privileged because think about people that have mental issues that are not Kanye West, that can't go and make that [album] and make it feel like it's all good," he told US radio personality Big Boy.
"Think about somebody that does exactly what I did at TMZ and they just do that at work, right? But Tuesday morning, they come in and they lost their job and they can't go back and make that. That's why God put that on me at age 40.
"I never been diagnosed until I was 39 years old diagnosed with a mental condition. But like I said on the album, it's not a disability, it's a superpower."
This clarified a lyric from his new album Ye - "Superpower... ain't no disability," he raps on 'Yikes', making his feelings clear.
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A lot of people on social media have praised his attitude towards being diagnosed, suggesting he could help to remove the 'stigma' attached to mental health.
"I love how YE is helping to shift the perceptions and stigmas behind #mentalhealth. Bipolar IS a super power. Thanks, YE," wrote one person on Twitter.
Another added: "I really love how Ye embraces his bipolar disorder and calls it a 'superpower' that is another level of self-love and confidence that we all as people need to reach, love yourself and every part that comes with you. Thank you @kanyewest for this album."
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But not everyone is happy.
One Twitter user responded: "'I hate being bipolar, its awesome' is such a fucked up thing to put on an album cover. Promoting being bipolar as if it actually isn't the hardest thing in the world to deal with. Fuck you @kanyewest."
A fourth response was equally direct: "I'm angry. Him putting this on his album cover stigmatises bipolar. Basically he's blaming all the stupid shit he says on bipolar... that's so fucked up. And bipolar isn't a split personality disorder which is a big misconception which he is also promoting here. @kanyewest fuck u."
Kanye isn't alone - there are a lot of people in Hollywood and beyond that have bipolar disorder.
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National treasure Stephen Fry also suffers from bipolar disorder - like Yeezy, he wasn't diagnosed until later in life when he was 37 - and Russell Brand has also opened up about his experiences.
And across the pond, 25-year-old singer Demi Lovato has spoken out about dealing with depression and manic periods.
Bipolar disorder is fairly common. According to the NHS, one in 100 people are diagnosed with it at some point in their life. Most people are diagnosed with it between the ages of 15-30, so it's unusual that Kanye was diagnosed at the relatively late age of 39.
Previously known as 'manic depression', it's a condition where sufferers' moods can swing from high to low, between lows of depression and then highs of mania - which can also lead to psychosis and hallucinations.
There are a number of medications that can be taken to regulate bipolar disorder, as well as therapy and methods of managing triggers that might lead to a manic episode.
'U OK M8?' is an initiative from LADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which features a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.
Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.
MIND: 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans: 116 123.
CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: U OK M8, Kanye West, Celebrity, Mental Health, US News