On World Mental Health Day, an emotional Deepika Padukone spoke about her battle with depression once again.
Recalling a day two years ago, when her mother had asked her if she was okay, the Bollywood star went on to thank her parents, her sister and her friends who stood by her as she fought against a mental illness that is heavily stigmatized by society. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here," she confessed, acknowledging that it was her mother's insistence on knowing what was going on that helped her come out.
Following her disclosure about her depression in an interview with NDTV in 2015, Deepika had started The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) in Bengaluru. The initiative spreads awareness about mental health. This year, a #DobaraPoocho campaign has been launched, encouraging people to be alert to spotting symptoms of depression in their loved ones and asking if they are really doing all right till they get an honest response. While there were the usual trolls who said that the actor was doing "drama", others like Saina Nehwal came out in support.
Great work @deepikapadukone #worldmentalhealthday @TLLLFoundation https://t.co/UkpzP3699c
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) October 10, 2016
Brave @deepikapadukone
— Akash Soni (@Akashtv1) October 11, 2016
Breaks down,talking ab Depression.But her openness will inspire many@India_MSM @Shehzad_Ind @upma23 @nanditathhakur pic.twitter.com/rzB0kRLKZZ
Women are conditioned to feel guilty about doing something for themselves, to care for themselves: @deepikapadukone on battling depression
— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) October 10, 2016
@deepikapadukone Thank you for speaking up about Depression and Mental health. Very rarely is this subject tackled within Bollywood.
— Nafeesa Shaikh (@Nafsooni83) September 30, 2016
Watch:
#WATCH: Deepika Padukone breaks down while sharing her personal struggle, at national public awareness campaign about mental health in Delhi pic.twitter.com/z09ngrHsOi
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 10, 2016