Why Oscars darling may 'save lives'

Jennifer Lawrence dazzled critics with her role opposite Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell drama, Silver Linings Playbook. Source: AP

• Jennifer Lawrence speaks out on mental illness 
• Oscar winner wants to "get rid of stigma" 
• BeyondBlue: Lawrence's comments "will save lives" 

JENNIFER Lawrence's comments about mental illness at the Academy Awards "will save lives", one of Australia's top advocates has said.

Lawrence, the new darling of the film industry after she won the Best Actress gong at the Oscars, said she was on a campaign to change the public perception of mental illness after accepting her award.

She was recognised for her role in the David O. Russell drama, Silver Linings Playbook, about two troubled people who find connection and stability with one another.

She used her moment in front of the cameras to address the issue with authority.

"I don't think we're going to stop until we get rid of the stigma for mental illness," she said. "I know [director] David O. Russell won't, and I hope that this helps.

"It's just so bizarre how in this world if you have asthma, you take asthma medication. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medication.

"But as soon as you have to take medicine for your mind, it's such a stigma behind it."

BeyondBlue CEO Kate Carnell says Lawrence's comments were incredibly poignant, with one in four Australians still believing that people with serious mental illnesses should simply "suck it up".

"It's just fantastic that somebody as high-profile as Jennifer is, at a time when she's winning an Oscar, takes time to address mental health," she told news.com.au.

"It will help, it will save lives.

"Stigma is still a very real problem. It's something that's incredibly detrimental to people who have depression and anxiety and can lead to suicide."

Lawrence isn't the first famous face to address serious issues and help drag them into the public discourse.

Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Di were two of the greatest campaigners of AIDS awareness in the 1980s. Likewise, Bob Geldof gave a spotlight to third-world poverty through Live Aid in that decade.

Despite his recent drug confessions, Lance Armstrong's LiveStrong foundation managed to give cancer a global fundraising platform, and a strong brand to drive it.

And Matt Damon has toiled to bring Africa's sanitation and water supply crisis into the mainstream view.

Sometimes it takes a glamorous public figure like Lawrence to give a traditionally unglamorous issue like mental health its time in the sun.

"We'd like more people in high places, or people who have influence, to talk about the issue of mental health," Ms Carnell added.

"It helps that Jennifer made the point that mental illness is just the same as physical illness."

Lifeline agrees it is "definitely positive" to have a celebrity talk to the issue of mental illness.

"We have always leveraged off people with high profiles. If it's done in a constructive way, like in this case, it's definitely a positive," Lifeline spokesman John Mendel said.

"Our view is that it's very healthy to have a conversation around mental illness and suicide because that's the best way to overcome the stigma and taboo.

"It serves as a bit of a gateway for people to seek help for themselves, or to encourage others to seek help."

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.

Read more about mental illness with news.com.au's Lifeline series here.

Follow @christoforpaine on Twitter

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