Roseanne And Shameless Star Emma Kenney Is Seeking Treatment For Mental Health And More

Emma Kenney Shameless

Emma Kenney, best known for her work on the revival of Roseanne and Showtime's Shameless, is taking a break. The young actress is seeking treatment for what she calls her "battles," as she's concerned for her mental health and her emotional well-being. Here's how she explained what she's going through at the moment.

I'm going to be seeking treatment for my battles. I'm going to work through it. I'm going to get help and make better choices... I was running with a really fast crowd. I was being naive and very immature, and I was doing things I should not be doing because it was illegal and I'm not 21. It wasn't healthy, and it was making me feel even worse -- anxious and depressed. It was just a slippery slope that I did not want to go down. And I knew that I needed to stop it.

In her exclusive interview with In Touch Weekly Emma Kenney confessed that her personal struggles haven't affected her work, but they've been very detrimental to her personal life. Kenney admits that she "doesn't know how to deal with stress," and, because of that, she turned her interests towards bad vices. Now in therapy, Kenney is working towards bettering herself and putting acting aside for the moment to be her best self.

I want to be the healthiest, best Emma that I can be, and I know that by going to treatment that's what's going to happen, and I'm going to continue on that positive road. I just want to send a message to my fans saying that it's OK to admit that you need help, and it doesn't make you weak. I'm going to come out on the other side, the True Emma that I've always been.

Emma Kenney begins filming the ninth season of Shameless in May, where she reprises her role as Debbie Gallagher. Shortly after that, she'll return to work on another season of Roseanne, where she plays Harris Conner-Healy in the revived ABC sitcom. She is done filming the currently-airing season of the sitcom, which will allow her this break in schedule. In the meantime, it's all about finding herself, and she believes speaking up about her problems can be helpful and beneficial to those who are struggling with similar issues. As someone who has acted since she was 10, the 18-year-old actress is stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight in focus her attention inward. We hope Emma Kenney can find some her peace during this mindful time.

Now, in treatment, I will work on finding other ways to cope with boredom, find hobbies and better learn how to deal with stress. I just think I need a mental sanity break and a break from the Hollywood scene.

Thankfully, Emma Kenney admits that she is receiving the love and support of her parents, closest friends, and co-stars. In addition to her television work, Kenney will also soon be heard in the upcoming animated film My Love Affair with Marriage and she'll be seen in next year's drama Robert the Bruce. Roseanne is currently airing its latest season, which is where Kenney can be seen on a weekly basis.

Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.