Warning: This article discusses mental health issues including attempted suicide and may be upsetting for some readers.
Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson has opened up about her severe mental health struggles, including multiple suicide attempts as a teenager and dealing with PTSD from constantly being followed by the paparazzi.
Willow Smith, the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, sat down with Paris for a candid one-on-one conversation on Red Table Talk, where they discussed the pressures of growing up famous.
Paris said that a combination of cyberbullying, depression and harassment from the media led her to try to take her own life on more than one occasion.
"A lot of people do feel regret when they try and attempt suicide," she said.
"There have been times where I did and times where I didn't, where I was upset that it didn't work. But I can say, several years later, that I'm really grateful that it didn't. Things have gotten better."
The 23-year-old musician said that people on the internet would "tell her to kill herself everyday".
She added: "It was really hard, and people would tell me to kill myself everyday. And I was depressed."
Warning: The following video includes discussion of mental health issues and suicide.
Paris said she had since found "more and more joys in life and more ways to cope," experiencing her first ever "moment of self-love" last year while looking in the mirror.
The daughter of the 'Thriller' hitmaker also revealed she sufferers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from years of being hounded by the paparazzi.
"It's always been pretty gnarly, my social anxiety," Paris told Willow.
"I experience auditory hallucinations with camera clicks and severe paranoia… I'll hear a trash bag rustling and I flinch and panic... It's just standard PTSD."
"I have nightmares," Paris added, explaining that she avoids going out during the day.
During the Red Table Talk episode, footage played showing Paris being harassed by a horde of photographers while walking through an airport, one of whom lambasted her with questions about whether her famous father had been murdered, while she screamed "please stop" before running away.
"It does some serious shock," Paris said of the feeling of constantly being watched, noting that "everyone" who came into her house "signs an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)".
"I feel like there's gotta be some kind of permanent damage."
Paris said she had started EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy to "begin the healing process".
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
