Very often, young adults who have been through rough times

want to speak out to help others in similar situations.

That's the case with our Awareness Day Honorary

Chairperson, Demi Lovato.

Many of you may know Demi from her early days with Disney or

from her hit songs or from her role as a

judge on The X Factor.

But it's her passionate advocacy on behalf of young

people who share her history with mental health challenges

that brings her to awareness day.

The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen

Sebelius, presented Demi Lovato with a Special

Recognition Award in appreciation of

her advocacy work.

And here's what she had to say to other young adults.

DEMI LOVATO

Hello, I'm Demi Lovato.

One of the most exciting things about becoming a young

adult is that you start to have a say in your life, where

you live, where you work, what you do.

Unfortunately, it's hard to feel in control when your life

feels out of control.

That's what it felt for me when I was going through my

dark period.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I was hurting

myself, I was anorexic and bulimic.

I wasn't doing well.

But it took my parents and my team to pull me aside to talk

to me about getting help.

What I experienced may not be exactly what you experience,

but for every young adult out there who feels scared or sad

or out of control, who feels like their mental health

diagnosis means they're unworthy, I wanna let you know

that you are, that your life has meaning.

You can reach out to someone you trust and

be there for you.

I want you to know that you can overcome

and get through anything.

I know where you've been, and I know where you're going can

be really magical.

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PROGRAM D.S. Simon Productions Inc., WALJ TV, SAMSA,

Children's Mental Health

Awareness Day Page .

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