After the death of Carrie Fisher in December, many mourned the loss of the woman famed for bringing the character of Princess Leia to life in the “Star Wars” franchise. Beyond her acting career, however, Fisher also spent her life speaking openly about her own mental health issues, working to remove the stigma both from drug addiction (see her semi-autobiographical 1987 novel Postcards from the Edge, later adapted into a movie) and bipolar disorder. Fisher, who was diagnosed with the disorder at age 24, spoke often and openly about her struggles and inspired others to do the same, praising those who coped with such an illness and encouraging them to do so without shame.
Article: Carrie Fisher Put Pen and Voice in Service of Bipolar Pride