Demi Lovato made a speech on Thursday (September 4) to encourage politicians to step up their efforts on mental health.

The singer, who has previously suffered from emotional and mental problems, appeared Washington, D.C. to speak at the National Alliance on Mental Illness convention.

She used her time to ask members of Congress to pass a comprehensive mental health bill.

Lovato said: "Those of us here today know that mental illness has no prejudice. It affects people of every race, age, gender, religion and economic status. It doesn’t discriminate between Republicans or Democrats, either.

"We've seen increased attention to our country's broken mental health system over the past few years, but we've seen very little action. Today our message is very clear: it's time for Congress to act for mental health by supporting the passage of a comprehensive mental health bill this year."

She meanwhile said on Twitter during the day: "It's NAMI's National Day of Action!! Pass comprehensive mental health legislation #mentalhealth #Act4MentalHealth."

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Watch Lovato talk mental health below: