On June 16, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon answered fan questions on Instagram Stories and opened up about her recent struggles with her mental health.

During the informal Q&A, Taeyeon answered questions frankly, responding with a simple “No” to questions like, “Are you doing well?”, “Did you watch soccer last night?”, and “Do you read YouTube comments?” In response to a question about how to get over a slump, she responded, “I’m not good at getting over it, so I just live in a slump.”

Some people took objection to her blunt answers and wrote things like, “Why are you being so disrespectful today?”, to which she answered, “Ah, so this is disrespectful.” Another person said, “Do you only know how to say no?” and she said, “Sorry,” while yet another person wrote, “Now that you’re 30, please grow up,” and she answered, “30s or 40s, it’s all the same.”

When one fan sent her the message, “It’s okay if you don’t post anything on Instagram, it’s okay just to communicate with us on Stories like this,” Taeyeon responded, “I’ve been sick for the past while. Please understand why I’ve refrained [from posting on social media]. Thank you and I’m sorry.” She also responded to another question about whether she’ll do an Instagram Live broadcast with, “I promise to communicate better when I’m feeling better.”

However, when one person wrote to her, “Is this bipolar disorder? Tsk tsk,” Taeyeon gave an honest but firm response. She wrote back, “No, I am suffering from depression. I am working hard to get better through treatment with antidepressants. Whether it’s depression or bipolar disorder, please don’t ‘tsk’ and treat people disrespectfully. They are all patients who are suffering.”

Taeyeon responded warmly to fans who shared their own struggle after seeing her answer. To a fan who said that they were also being treated for depression, Taeyeon answered, “It’s going to be okay.” When fans sent her love and support, she thanked them and promised to work hard to get better.

One fan wrote, “You are someone who gives me so much strength and comfort, and I’m sad that I can’t help comfort you in return.” Taeyeon wrote back, “No, you do give me a lot of comfort. That’s why I like talking with fans, I get a lot of strength from communicating with you. Thank you.” In the next reply, she added, “I’m so thankful that you listen to my music and seek me out. I gain strength from you every day.”

To a fan who sent her a virtual hug, she responded, “I decided to talk to you today because I needed to pep myself up. I feel like I’m being nourished by all of you. I’m going to be okay. I’m sorry for making you worry, but I think that this is another way for us to get to know each other better. I will take better care of myself. For the fans who deserve all the good things in the world.”

Taeyeon recently concluded her Japanese tour through Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.

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