“I Fainted, I was Diagnosed with Clinical Depression” : Deepika Padukone Recalled her Mental Illness at WEF Davos

Deepika Padukone, who is an advocate of mental illness has often opened up about her battle against depression publicly. The actress also aims to eliminate the stigma around mental illness with the help of her foundation "Live Love Laugh Foundation.”

Currently, Deepika is at Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, where she discussed mental health with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

The Chhapaak actress recalled how she suffered mental illness when she least expected it. “Mental illness happened to me when I had least expected it. I was at a professional high, my movies were doing great and I was in an amazing relationship. Everything was going just perfect. One morning when I woke up and I felt all was well, I fainted. Luckily the house help came and saw me on the floor. I was taken to a doctor and I was told it was nothing and probably just some blood pressure fluctuation or something like physical tiredness. Those were the first physical signs. For a long time, I just felt like sleeping, not going out, not meeting people” she said at the event.

She also revealed that it was her mother, Ujjala Padukone, who had advised her to get professional help. “Luckily, my mother had come to my place and when my parents were packing, I just started crying. She asked me what was it and I had no answer. At that time, my mother told me that I probably needed professional help and that’s how I began consulting a psychiatrist” Deepika said.

“After I was diagnosed with a clinical depression regarding my mental health, I had to even lie when someone asked me how was I doing. I would say, I’m great, though I was actually terrible,” she further added.

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Besides, Deepika also spoke about the stigma around mental illness and stated: “As I began on my path of recovery, I also understood the stigma attached with the mental health and the need to go public with it. Imagine what would have happened, if my mother had not said that I should a professional help for my problem. I felt that I should do something to help others with their signs and symptoms and that was the reason for going public with my illness and then setting up the Live Love Laugh foundation.”

She also stressed on mental health awareness and urged people to seek help when needed. “Are you feeling sadness and a low for a long period of time? You need to understand sadness is transient and depression is for a long period of time. It is very important to share with somebody around you about how you are feeling. It is also important that the people around you don’t dismiss it as attention-seeking or some small thing. It is important for caregivers to encourage people to seek help” DP continued to talk about the important issue.

Further, she also concluded that people must realize that there are some fundamental things that need to change such as a notion that men are not supposed to have a mental illness.

Owing to Deepika’s open-mindedness about the issue, Dr. Tedros thanked her and shared a picture from their chat on Twitter. “Delighted to discuss #mentalhealth with @deepikapadukone at #wef20. Your openness and vulnerability are helping others to seek help and helping to break down stigma. @WHO look forward to working closely with you. There is no health without mental health. #LetsTalk” he wrote in his post.

Reacting to the same, Deepika thanked him for his warmth and generosity and presented her wish to work together towards de-stigmatizing mental illness.