Celebrities joined Biden administration officials and psychology professionals for a mental health roundtable held by the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council on Friday.
Actors Kal Penn, Alexandra Daddario and Lisa Ann Walter and writers David Shore, Shawn Ryan and Katori Hall were among a group of 20 entertainment figures who met to discuss the inclusion of accurate mental health storylines in film and television series.
The roundtable, organized by The Hollywood Committee, On Our Sleeves, JED Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Juvenile Welfare Board, was also attended by Mädchen Amick, Freddie Highmore, Tzi Ma, Bianca Lawson and Joely Fisher, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Fisher, who is Carrie Fisher’s half-sister and SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, posted a message on the union’s Instagram after the discussion, which was part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ ongoing work to address the nationwide mental health crisis.
“My brilliant sister Carrie Fisher, who would’ve celebrated her 67th birthday today, wore her mental illness like a crown and scepter,” she wrote. “When she departed, I took up the mantle of supporting humans who otherwise felt alone.”
“This strike we are conducting carries very real pain for everyone in the industry and beyond … This sort of environment can cause acute mental and emotional challenges. As your union leaders, we see this and we want to declare our support, whether you are a strike captain, a volunteer or any member — we see you and we hear you. You are not alone.”