Jonah Hill announced he won’t be promoting his upcoming documentary — or any upcoming projects for the foreseeable future — to avoid the anxiety attacks he often suffers during press trips.
The 38-year-old actor penned an open letter to share his decision to stop promoting new films indefinitely to focus on his mental health.
Hill – whose new documentary Sputz focuses on his mental health issues – said he has suffered from anxiety, exacerbated by media appearances and public events, for nearly two decades.
“Through this journey of self-discovery within film, I have come to the conclusion that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks exacerbated by media appearances and public events,” Hill wrote in the open letter first released, Appointment.
The documentary, directed by Hill, focuses on his struggles with mental health and features his own therapist.
Jonah Hill says his documentary Sputz will focus on mental health issues as he hopes he can help others who are struggling.FilmMagic
“The whole purpose of this film is to make the therapy and the tools I learned in therapy available to a wide audience for their personal use through an entertaining film,” he added in the open letter.
Hill said “Stutz” will have its world premiere at a prestigious film festival in the fall.
“However, you will not see me out there promoting this film or any of my upcoming films while I take this important step to protect myself,” he wrote. “If I made myself sicker by going out and doing publicity, I wouldn’t be true to myself or the film.”
“I hope the work will speak for itself,” he added.
The 21 Jump Street actor added that he’s fortunate to be able to take time off work to focus on his mental health.
“I usually cringe at letters or comments like this, but I understand that I’m one of the privileged few who can afford to take some time off,” Hill wrote. “I’m not going to lose my job while I’m working on my anxiety.
He said the open letter was not only a way to spread the word of his no-press decision, but also an encouragement for more people to speak out about mental health.
“With this letter and with Stutz, I hope it becomes more normal for people to talk and act about this stuff,” Hill wrote. “So that they can take steps to feel better about themselves, and so that the people in their lives understand their problems more clearly.”
He said he hopes “Stuz” will help New Yorkers and others struggling with mental health.