Trigger Warning: This story addresses mental health and depression in detail. Please read with care and take breaks if needed.
Turning 49 brought a wave of reflection for Emmy-nominated actor Mark Duplass. The “Morning Show” star opened up on social media about how decades of mental health struggles have shaped his identity, humbled him, and changed the way he moves through the world.
Duplass’ Raw, Heartwarming Note On Mental Health
“I am 49 years old today,” he wrote. “I am oddly feeling grateful this morning for all of my mental health struggles. Yes, they have brought to my knees more times than I would prefer. But also… they have brought me to my knees! Which was oddly good for me. If you knew me when I was young I was a somewhat c**y fart face who was short on empathy. And I have been so humbled by my own limitations and struggles it has not only made me a better friend/dad/husband/son it has defined who I am as an artist and human being in this world.”
He added, “So today I am grateful for it all. Tmrw I might get fussy about it again. That’s cool too 🙂 As always, I am sending you a colossal tidal wave of hope. And if you find yourself heading someplace new or scary, @988lifeline is a text/call/chat away.”
His post continued a conversation he has been leading publicly about men’s mental health and the importance of breaking long-standing stigma.
Duplass Has Spoken Openly About Depression, Anxiety, and Breaking the Stigma
GettyThe “Morning Show” star has been vocal about men’s mental health, especially after sharing his regimen for managing depression and anxiety.
Though he plays Chip Black on Apple TV+, he has stepped into a different spotlight offscreen as an advocate. Duplass first opened up about his decades-long struggle in October 2023.
Alongside a smiling photo, he wrote, “I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for most of my life…When I see pictures of myself like this one, I can see the fear and sadness behind the smile.”
In an interview with ABC News’ Whit Johnson, he admitted he did not anticipate the response. “It’s funny, I didn’t really see it as something super personal,” he said.
“And I thought, you know, I’ll just share this feeling I had. And it was really the response that people had, particularly a lot of men, that made me realize [that] men’s mental health in particular might not [have] been as destigmatized as I thought it was.”
The Actor Says His Struggles Began Young and Reached a Breaking Point in His 20s
Duplass said his challenges began in his teens, when he experienced panic attacks and tried to push through them alone. By his late 20s, he said his mental health worsened.
“I had no skills with which to deal with it,” he recalled in an interview with Good Morning America. “And I really did, I thought this might be it for me. I might never be normal again.”
He credits therapy and medication as essential to his recovery, but said his day-to-day stability relies on several habits.
“I learned that I got to get out of bed in the morning,” he said.
“I need to make sure I’m sleeping eight to nine hours a night. I need to make sure I’m getting really good exercise. I need to make sure I’m eating healthy, and for me, and this isn’t the same for everyone, I needed to demystify the medication.”
He also addressed whether honesty could impact his career. “I thought about it,” he admitted. “The last thing I would want is someone who’s considering hiring me for a job to think, like, ‘Oh man, what happens if he shows up and he’s really depressed or anxious one day?’”
“But I just want to say very clearly, like there is no shame in this. I was so scared to tell people what I was dealing with, and once I did, it deepened all of my relationships and helped my professional career, and that’s something I didn’t anticipate.”
Duplass Offers Hope for Those Struggling: ‘The Fog Is a Lie’
Ironically, he said that playing Chip Black often feels like stepping into a version of himself without the mental health tools he now relies on. “Playing Chip on ‘The Morning Show’ is pure fun for me, because the good news is he’s way more stressed out than I am,” he said.
“Chip is basically me without my mental health systems and the medication and what that would feel like.”
Duplass also recalled a time during season 2 when he told the production he was struggling. “They were so wonderful and so accommodating,” he said.
His message to anyone facing similar challenges was simple and direct. “It’s gonna be OK,” he said. “You’re probably feeling like there’s no way I’m ever going to be normal again. My life is ruined, but that fog is a lie. It’s not real. And you will rise above the fog, and it will lift.”
