The Indian society is dominated by the “stigma” of mental health and its issues. Could it be the deficit of awareness or is it an underlying dread to not be questioned? Here’s how Bollywood is tackling this dilemma and finally changing things for the better.

 

It’s easy to internalize the taboo surrounding mental health, especially in a society like ours where mental health is still a conversation halter amongst many people. In support to, The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) organized in 2017 a survey across 8 Indian cities that disclosed the following statistics:

 

• 78% of the people surveyed showed fear and admitted to rather keep distance from those suffering a mental illness
• 42% of the people surveyed said they may display anger ‘sometimes’ or ‘always’ towards those suffering a mental illness
• Nearly half of the people surveyed used the terms ‘retard’, ‘crazy’ and ‘stupid’ while describing those suffering a mental illness 

 

It is this social stigma and a heavy lack of awareness due to which only about 10-12% of people in India reach out for help. That is a big margin considering suicide rates in India are one of the highest!

 

This World Suicide Prevention Day, we discuss some of the industry’s biggest names that have stepped out to share their stories and move forward to help people do the same. Read on to see how they’ve made use of their platform.

 

DEEPIKA PADUKONE

 

The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) is the Charitable Trust founded by the actress in 2015 to create awareness of mental health and work towards breaking the stigma associated with it. Having herself struggled through depression, the initiative focuses on stress, anxiety and depression. Since inception, TLLLF has undertaken many major programmes like the #DobaraPoocho campaign – India’s first award winning mental health campaign – programs for school students and teachers, a sensitization programme for doctors and free psychiatric treatments for about 800 individuals. TLLLF also undertakes awareness programmes through engagement on social media and outreach via print, TV, radio and digital media. 

 

ANUSHKA SHARMA

 

Anxiety is one of the leading causes of suicide and mental health issues. Actress Anushka Sharma took to Twitter to discuss just that. She mentioned her being prescribed anxiety medications and continued to destigmatize her behavior by adding that it’s a normal and biological thing. There is nothing shameful about it or to hide. She asserted that by voicing her mental health problems she would like to educate people about this and take the shame out of anxiety or any other mental illnesses.

 

KARAN JOHAR

 

It’s not all glitz and glam for this director-actor-producer and more. Claiming them the darkest days of his life, 2016 was the year Karan Johar was prescribed with clinical depression. He had confessed to having avoided facing many emotions that had gradually built up as anxiety and soon depression. Today he is much happier and healthy and the father of two beautiful babies. To keep this in perspective, Karan not only helped destigmatise the need to seek help but also bloom hope that it does get better with time and effort.

 

VARUN DHAWAN

 

Many people wouldn’t believe it but this energetic actor was once on his way to depression as he began shooting for his movie Badlapur. He clarified that he was never depressed but he was definitely at the edge of it. He chose not to use the term depression since it’s a heavy word and he didn’t want to use it so loosely. He was prescribed to the doctor where things went ahead to get better. By opening up about his struggle, he encourages the importance of realizing signs of illness and seeking for help as soon as possible that can really stave off worser situations.

 

 

ANANYA BIRLA

 

Stamping out mental illness and its discrimination, Singer Ananya Birla leads the initiative MProject with her mother that has her heart set to help those who don’t have a support system to rely on and get better. She has seen her own share of depressive episodes and following that MProject is her effort to make sure people know they’re not alone and things will get better. Birla strongly asserts, ““Mental illnesses do not discriminate. It can happen to me, or to a homeless person, to a doctor, to a lawyer, or just anyone. It has nothing to do with how much you earn.” 

 

YAMI GAUTAM

 

The biggest community that takes to suicide in India is no doubt the student majority. Actress Yami Gautam was herself a top student in academics, so she had the understanding and courage to discuss with hundreds of IIT students the importance of mental health, and why speaking up about it can be a huge ailment to its damage. The actress discussed peer pressure, suicide and the constant worries of entrance exams. Yami helped a huge community of mental health survivors understand the subject and till date continues to be vocal about issues that are close to her heart and need to be voiced.

 

The more we discuss and talk about these issues, the more easier and normal it’ll get to address and not be held wrong for seeking out help. Thanks to these celebrities and their foundation, society is slowly yet surely mustering the essence of why mental health is important and normal; both tangibly and verbally. 

 

Reach out to this suicide prevention hotline: AASRA – 022 2754 6669