Bella Thorne Opens Up About Childhood Depression and Her Strained Relationship with Mom: 'I Thought If I Hurt Myself, She Would See My Pain'

Bella Thorne is getting real about her mental health journey in a way that hits home for so many. On the“Call Her Daddy”podcast, the 28-year-old actress opened up about struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts during her childhood. She tied a lot of that pain to her complicated relationship with her mom, Tamara.“I thought at one point like if I had hurt myself that maybe she would see how much pain I was in,”she shared. It’s a heartbreaking admission that highlights just how deep family wounds can go.

Thorne revealed that the tension at home got so bad that she moved out at 18 with her then-boyfriend, actor Gregg Sulkin. She credited him with teaching her the basic life skills she never learned at home, like how to manage adulthood. Over the years, she’s been vocal about the“fractured”dynamic with her mom, even posting a public open letter in 2019. Recently, things have started to shift. Tamara has acknowledged the past strain and confirmed the two are now“on the mend.”Bella echoed that sentiment, writing,“Our relationship is f–ed up but I’m glad we are here. I’m grateful we have time to mend. I love you mommy.”

This story is an important reminder that mental health struggles don’t discriminate, and that family relationships can be some of the hardest to navigate. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. Have you ever had to work through a difficult relationship with a parent? How did you start the healing process? Let us know in the comments.