Britney Spears/Instagram/PABritney Spears checked herself into a mental health facility last week, where she will live for 30 days, according to sources.
The beloved performer has made the wise choice to put her mental health first, as her father’s ongoing health issues take a toll on the Spears family.
Her dad, Jamie Spears, was diagnosed with a spontaneously ruptured colon late last year, and since the second of two corrective surgeries to deal with major issues with his intestines and colon, has been suffering complications.
Spears called curtains on her Las Vegas residency shows for the time being, so she could help look after her dad, reports TMZ.
She made the announcement in January, on Instagram, writing:
I don’t even know where to start with this, because this is so tough for me to say. I will not be performing my new show Domination. I’ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart.
However, it’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make.
A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him. I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time.
She asked her fans for understanding, and offered a full refund for tickets, adding thank you’s and appreciation for their ‘prayers and support for my family during this time’.
Sadly, it seems her father’s health has yet to show significant improvement, and so Britney has taken some time to look after her own mental health.
As news broke of her admission to the facility, she once again took to Instagram to share a message of good mental health with her fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvziBzUgQoz/
Britney posted a photo with the words, ‘Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit’, along with a caption asserting we all need to take a little time for a little ‘me time’.
As TMZ reported, Britney has been under a conservatorship – a legal concept in the United States whereby a guardian or a protector is appointed by a judge to manage the financial affairs and daily life of another due to physical or mental limitations, or old age – since 2008 for issues related to her mental health.
If you’re experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They’re open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year.
Their national number is 0800 58 58 58, and they also have a webchat service if you’re not comfortable talking on the phone.
If you have a story you want to tell, share it with UNILAD via [email protected].
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.