R&B singer Kehlani shares her journey through mental health issues

As American R&B singer Kehlani celebrated her 31st birthday on April 23 with the release of her eponymous fifth studio album “Kehlani,"  she reflects on her mental health journey so far.

In an interview with VIBE Magazine on April 22, the “Folded” singer opened up about navigating through her diagnoses of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder.

Reflecting on how the diagnosis changed her life after turning 30, Kehlani explained that getting answers was just the beginning.

She said, “When you finally have the tools, you have the diagnosis, but then along with the diagnosis comes the work.” She then started taking medication and explored different types of therapy.

The Grammy award-winning singer described having a “tool belt” of awareness—recognizing patterns in her behavior, spotting triggers, and realizing that she has to live differently now.

Kehlani reflected on how her previous lifestyle—little sleep, partying, constant travelling, and nonstop studio work— was already intense for anyone. Adding bipolar disorder on top of that made things even harder to manage.

She said it often felt like people around her couldn’t tell if what she was experiencing was serious: “Because everyone around is like, this must be just like famous stuff or crazy artist stuff that all you guys must go through when you hear the stories.”

She admitted that this made it harder for others to recognize when she actually needed support. Why did she seek diagnosis?She answered, “I was losing it.” 

She also confessed that she had reached the breaking point. Kehlani became overwhelmed while processing global events and violence, which triggered intense paranoia and anger.

She described having a hard time going outside and even staying in her home. “I think people are outside of my house.” That experience ultimately pushed her to confront what she was going through.

Now, she focuses on being more open with the people around her. She lets them know what warning signs to look for—like not sleeping, not eating, talking rapidly, or suddenly taking on too many new ideas or projects. She encourages them to intervene if they notice these signs: “Call my psychiatrist, I'm in crisis.”

She said turning 30 was about learning how to ask for help and letting others help her even when she might not realize she’s struggling. “Please let me know, because bipolar people, we usually don't know.”

Kehlani first shared her diagnosis publicly on her Facebook page in April 2025, a day after her 30th birthday.