In addition to being an actress, Glenn Close, 77, is an activist and a mental health advocate. In conversation with Whoopi Goldberg for Interview magazine, Glenn spoke about Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit that she cofounded. Bring Change to Mind exists to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. By interacting with high school students through her work for the organization, Glenn has learned that "our generation f—ed everything up."
Glenn told Whoopi: "One young girl said, 'We hear all the time that we’re saviors, that we’re going to change the world. I can’t deal with that, because I’m trying to deal with my depression.'"
Glenn explained that when dealing with mental health challenges, "the first step to getting help is just having the courage to talk about it," she told Interview.
Her sister Jessie inspired her to start the organization because Jessie "had the courage" to open up to her about suicidal ideation.
Unfortunately, Glenn continued, mental health is not always prioritized. It's also still stigmatized even though it's something that affects everyone in some way.
"There is not one person who has not said to me, 'I know someone who is dealing with something.' It’s a reality of being a human being, so let’s get real. Hopefully we’re entering a time when healing is more important than hate," she said.
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Glenn believes that there's hope for the future — but if people want younger generations to make a difference, they also have to support them, she pointed out.
"These kids are much more aware than we were," she explained to Whoopi. "So if we say, 'You’re our only hope, and you’re who’s going to make the world balanced again,' we need to help them."
