DEMI LOVATO
Raising Money for Mental Illness 'In Honor of My Dad'
Demi Lovato has been upfront about her struggles with mental illness for years, and now she's furthering her advocacy by partnering with Regular Hero to raise money for her Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program.
"Mental illness can affect anyone, and although help is available, it often goes untreated," the 22-year-old – who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder – tells PEOPLE exclusively. "This holiday season, I'm so excited to raise awareness to a cause that is close to my heart by inspiring others to seek the help that they need and encouraging folks to give back to those who can't afford treatment."
In a video posted to her Facebook page, Lovato tells fans she decided to found the scholarship organization for her father, Patrick, who died in 2013.
"That program came about when I lost my birth father. He suffered from mental illness. I believe that it was actually bipolar-schizophrenic, and he didn't have the resources that he needed to get help," says Lovato, who hopes the organization will also start conversations and tackle stigmas associated with mental illness. "In honor of my dad and other people that couldn't afford mental healthcare, I wanted to create a way for people to help others get the help that they need," the singer continues in the video.