Bollywood glamorous diva Deepika Padukone has finally voiced her excruciating experience of battling depression for the past few years.
The Bollywood prodigy took it to the media and crushed the stereotypes that are often associated with mental health problems including depression and anxiety.
She shared her traumatic experience on Oct. 10, which is marked as the World Mental Health Day. Although, it left her in tears, her shared thoughts on depression allowed many of the tight-lipped sufferers to come forward.
Deepika is one of the few activists to launch India's first countrywide public awareness mental health campaign for her NGO. Labelled as "The Live Love Laugh Foundation", (TLLLF), she made a grand appearance at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi.
Deepika's TLLLF has also joined The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) to collaborate on the alarming issue.
While speaking to the press, she gasped and acknowledged her mother, Ujalla for showing utmost support to her daughter struggling against depression. She even disclosed that it was her mother who took the initiative to take Deepika to the hospital.
"If it wasn't for you, mom, I wouldn't be here. My mother immediately knew what I was going through. We reached out for help and thanks to my doctors, I'm fine today,"
"The people I was surrounded by supported me in my recovery. Even when I chose to speak about it, they were encouraging," maintains IB Times.
She also highlighted that she has noticed a significant change dealing with the mental health stigmatization since the first time she spoke about depression.
"I think when I shared my story, I didn't think of any stigma or shame being attached to it. A lot of it also had to do with the immediate people around me, whether it was my family, friends, or my doctors, who also gave me the strength to do what I did. I shared my story last year and almost a year later, I see the conversation changing, I see it coming to the fore, it's nice to see full page articles in newspapers and magazines. I think it's a great beginning.
The 30-year also underlined that there is no specific cause of depression or anxiety. It just happens. And unfortunately, it can be caused by some biological factor or traumatic incident that might have happened in the past.
While others seal their lips when they are struggling with social taboo, Deepika has launched a social campaign for the sensitive people out there through TLLLF, #DOBARAPOOCHO.
"In the times we are living today, we have become so competitive, which is a good thing, but we have become extremely insensitive too. Through this campaign, I dedicate this to people who have survived depression, people suffering through it even now and urge the society to become more sensitive."
"If there is hope, there is a way," she added.
