Selena Gomez is stepping out of the limelight to deal with anxiety, panic attacks and depression. In a statement, the star revealed that her mental health issues have come as a side effect of Lupus, a disease which affects the body’s immune system.

“As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have Lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways,” she told toofab. “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of Lupus, which can present their own challenges.”

“I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off. Thank you to all my fans for your support,” she continues, before going on to address her fans.

“You know how special you are to me, but I need to face this head on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best. I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues.”

She hasn’t, however, revealed exactly how long she’s taking off – she’s in the middle of her Revival world tour and is due to come to the UK in October.

Gomez isn’t the only musician to open up about mental health this year, though – Zayn Malik, Olly Alexander and Kehlani are among those who have done so too. Speaking out about these issues is commendable, and we can only hope that it helps to break down sigma surrounding mental health and encourage those who need it to seek help.