How Sushant Singh’s Demise Is A Cry For Attention Towards Lack Of Mental Health Awareness And Assistance
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It is time to address the elephant in the room— Depression. As difficult as it is to talk about this topic, it’s unrealistic to deny that more and more Indians are diagnosed with depression every year. The topic of mental health came into the limelight after the devastating news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide reached the headlines. The young actor was said to be struggling with depression since a few months. Bollywood was shocked at the news of his untimely passing and many celebrities put out heartfelt notes and remembered the life of one of the most versatile actors of our generation. According to reports, the second biggest cause of death amongst 15 to 27-year-olds in India is suicide. As horrifying as that sounds, what’s more, horrifying is that over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year worldwide. Despite these astonishing numbers, India lacks adequate resources to tackle this problem successfully. Here’s everything you need to know (1).
What Is Depression?
Depression is a mental illness that involves a person losing the motivation and desire to perform even daily activities and feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness for long periods. This feeling is accompanied by a sense of inability to carry out basic tasks and can go on for multiple weeks. It is a surprisingly common illness and sadly, not talked about enough (2). The problem is that the government or the society hasn’t dedicated adequate resources to the concept of mental health. In fact, there are many who do not even believe in it at all (yes, even in 2020).
Many Indians find it difficult to access a therapist within their budget and many simply cannot bring themselves to visit one due to the social taboo associated with mental health in India. The only way one can tackle depression is if they seek out the help they need or if they try to talk to those around them about mental health. While depression may be a common condition, due to social taboos, it is not often spoken about. However, there are a few celebrities who have broken the glass wall and spoken out about their experiences with the illness.
Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out About Depression
Back in 2015, Deepika Padukone made headlines when she announced that she had struggled with depression. The actress had a very open and candid interview about her experiences with the illness and how it was her mother who noticed the symptoms and insisted she find a therapist. The actress spoke about how seeking therapy and counseling helped her battle her depression.
Illeana D’Cruz too has opened up about her struggles with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and depression. The actress even admitted to considering suicide during her worst phase of depression. Shaheen Bhatt, the older sister of Alia Bhatt, wrote about her experiences with the invisible illness in her debut novel, I’ve Never Been (Un) Happier. These celebrities are proof that mental illness doesn’t care about your success, money, or fame; it could happen to anyone.
Sushant’s Struggle With Depression
According to reports, Sushant has been struggling with depression for the past few months. The actor had shared a very strong bond with his mother and was deeply affected by her untimely death when he was a child. The actor would often share old pictures of his mother and write quotes about losing a loved one. The last post he shared featured a collage of him and his mother and a cryptic quote about a “fleeting life”.
According to police reports, the actor has been struggling with depression for around six months as they found prescriptions in his room. He lived with pretty much alone, with only his house help around the time of his passing. The actor’s last rites will be performed in Vile Parle and his father is coming down from Patna to attend the funeral and perform the last rites (3).
Deepika’s Words Of Support
Deepika Padukone shared an image on Twitter with the quote, “As a person who has had a lived experience with mental illness, I cannot stress enough about the importance of reaching out”. She further encouraged her fans to come forward, speak out, and help in any way they can. Deepika ended her statement with, “Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly there is hope,”
Deepika also came to Sushant’s defense after many news websites and sources reported his death in a very unethical manner. The actress shared a statement saying, “People don’t commit suicide. They die by suicide.” She stated that criminals commit a crime and that people who commit suicide have been in a deep state of anguish to take that final step (4).
What Now?
It’s wonderful that people are talking about mental health. We hope that losing such young talent is a wakeup call for the rest of Bollywood and our country as a whole. As the future of our country, it is up to us to keep the momentum going and encourage more and more people to speak out about mental health.
Do you believe you have adequate resources to access mental health practitioners? Do let us know your thoughts on this article in the comment section below.
