It's no secret that Demi Lovato is a huge advocate for mental health. The "Really Don't Care" singer makes a point to always speak out against the stigma surrounding eating disorders and other forms of mental illness. After losing her father in 2013, Demi Lovato launched the Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program. Through this charity, she helps others receive mental healthcare treatment that they otherwise couldn’t afford. In fact, she recently introduced a new way to support this cause. Partnering with Regular Hero, Demi Lovato's Hope Dealer campaign is a clothing line, where 100 percent of the proceeds go to mental health treatment scholarships. In an interview with People, she explained,
Mental illness can affect anyone, and although help is available, it often goes untreated. This holiday season, I'm so excited to raise awareness to a cause that is close to my heart by inspiring others to seek the help that they need and encouraging folks to give back to those who can't afford treatment.
It's incredibly brave and inspiring of Lovato to give back, in more ways than one. Not only is her commentary about her own struggles with mental illness invaluable (considering it's often such a taboo topic), but the fact that she's financially supporting others is awesome as well.
In the past, the singer has been very open about her own struggle with bipolar disorder. In a recent video on her Facebook page, Lovato opens up about her father's struggle as well.
In the clip above, she explains why she created the scholarship treatment program:
[My birth father] suffered from mental illness. I believe that it was bipolar-schizophrenic. He didn't have the resources that he needed to get help. In honor of my dad and other people who couldn't afford mental healthcare, I wanted to create a way for people to help others get the help that they need. I made these shirts. They're really cool... You're not just donating money, you have something to show for it too.
The Hope Dealer campaign doesn't only include shirts. There are sweatpants, hoodies, tank tops, and hats too! Lovato explains that when someone notices the shirt, it allows the person wearing it to share the story behind it, which further helps break down the stigma surrounding mental illness. So basically, it's a win-win.
Overall, I think it's a fantastic idea. And hey, if you need to do some last minute holiday shopping (or just want to support an awesome cause), be sure to check it out!
Images: Getty Images, Shop.RegularHero.org
