Paris Jackson, the daughter of the late Michael Jackson, has spoken publicly about undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on nine separate occasions to treat severe depression, according to a report from The Star. She described the treatments as painful, offering a rare personal account of a procedure that remains the subject of medical debate.
The Star reports that Jackson’s disclosure came as she discussed the experience’s impact on her creative work. Additional coverage from IMDb notes that the ordeal directly inspired the artwork for her upcoming album. In her account, Jackson did not specify when the treatments occurred or the exact duration of the course, but she was clear about the physical discomfort involved.
ECT, also known as electroshock therapy, involves passing small electric currents through the brain to intentionally trigger a brief seizure. According to The Conversation, which also covered Jackson’s remarks, the procedure is used in cases of severe depression that have not responded to other treatments. The outlet highlights that while many patients report significant relief, the therapy remains controversial due to potential side effects, including memory loss and the stigma attached to its historical use.
Jackson’s decision to go public adds a high-profile voice to an ongoing conversation about psychiatric treatments. Her comments come at a time when mental health advocacy is increasingly common among celebrities, but detailed first-person accounts of ECT are still relatively rare.
What to watch next: Whether Jackson elaborates further on how the ECT experience shaped the themes and visuals of her new album in upcoming interviews.
