It’s World Mental Health Day today, and if there’s one celebrity in India who changed our perspective about mental health issues, it is Deepika Padukone. A role model for many, she managed to do away with the social stigma attached to depression when she chose to speak about battling mental health issues back in 2015.
In a recent interview with a magazine, Deepika, who was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2014, opened up about why she chose to speak about mental health. She said it felt “extremely liberating” to openly talk about the issue. She further added, “Now, not a single day goes by that people aren’t comfortable to talk to me about their mental health. And I give them my time. There’s nothing more important than that, to listen. That in itself is an achievement for me and for the cause. That was really my motivation, to have people talk about mental health, the way we talk about our physical health.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you should reach out to your loved ones, come up with a calming ritual and seek professional help, if required. Pinup this self-love poster in your room to remind yourself about how awesome you are, even when you’re feeling low!
Deepika further spoke about how her mother was her constant pillar of support while she battled depression. “I didn’t know why I would feel directionless. Why I felt like I didn’t want to live anymore. Why I felt I wanted to give up everything. Why I would just break down or have bouts of anxiety or start sweating suddenly. I had no idea why any of it happened, and it was my mother who happened to catch me in one of these moments,” she said.
Deepika, who has been extremely vocal about the issue ever since, also attended a fundraiser for The Youth Anxiety Center in June, earlier this year. She also took to Instagram to share how patience and hope are the keys to fight depression. “Mental illness has presented society with a very tough challenge. But my experience with the illness has taught me so much; to be patient, for one, but most importantly that there is hope!”
The 33-year-old actress runs the Live Love Laugh Foundation, which aims at helping those struggling with mental health problems. On World Mental Health Day last year, Deepika urged her fans to break their silence and speak up about mental health. She wrote, “90% of India’s population is unaware of what they’re experiencing mentally & emotionally. There are others who refuse to seek help due to the stigma attached to mental illnesses. In 2014, I shared my story. Today I urge you to share yours too using the hashtag #NotAshamed @tlllfoundation”
On the work front, Deepika will be next seen in Chhapaak opposite Vikrant Massey. The movie is slated to hit the screens on January 10, 2020. She is also playing a brief but important role in Ranveer Singh’s 83, a movie based on India winning the World Cup in 1983.
Featured Image: Instagram
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