Depression is next epidemic, society should learn to deal with it, says Deepika Padukone

Technology can play a role in creating awareness on mental illness or depression, but physical support of the loved ones and friends and medical intervention is important in helping a person deal with depression, said actor Deepika Padukone.

The actor, who successfully fought depression four years ago and chose to share her experience with the public to help remove the stigma associated with it, was the celebrity speaker on the concluding session of World Congress on IT and NASSCOM India Leadership Forum here on Wednesday.

“Fighting depression was a personal and life-changing experience for me. I felt if my experience helped even one person, then my job is done,” she told Rishad Premji, vice-chairman, NASSCOM, and chief strategy officer, Wipro, at a session on Making mental wellness a boardroom priority.

A person going through a phase of depression should know that he or she is not the only one going through it. One in every three or five persons experience depression around the world and it would be the next big epidemic to hit the world. “It’s important to realise that it is OK to feel vulnerable at times and OK to seek medical help,” she said.

One may not instantly notice the signs of depression in a person unless people around that person are sensitive. “Be aware of the people around you to intuitively notice changes in their behaviour and let them know you care,” she said.

“It was my mother who understood my condition and reached out to a counsellor. If not for her who gave me time to listen to me, I would not have had the medical intervention at the right time,” she said.

Ms. Deepika, who set up Live, Love, Laugh Foundation to spread awareness on mental illness and depression, said she chose the name as it stood for hope. “Hope is a significant emotion which brings positivity to make lifestyle changes.”

When told that 42.5% of corporate employees suffered from depression, the actor sought to know how many organisations had full-time psychiatrists and counsellors. “I want to come back and know that these figures have declined.”

Her advise to those in position of power was to be understanding with people with mental illness and not treat them differently.

Is social media a reason for depression? She said people posted slightly-glorified versions of their life on social media. “One may end up feeling worse about oneself seeing others’ feed. It’s important to consume social media in moderation,” she said. Ms. Deepika said she would not be endorsing alternative therapies for depression. “I can only talk about my experience and I benefited from the counselling sessions and medication,” she said.

When pointed out that fear of failure and failure itself led to depression, she said everyone would face failure at one time or the other. “But there is something to learn from every experience and bounce back.”

Her advice to young mothers was to keep the channel of communication open with their children and let them know you are there for them. School curriculum should include mental health as a topic to create awareness on the signs of depression to seek help, she said.