On World Mental Health Day, After Hrs takes a look at a few celebs, who spoke about their personal battles to help spread awareness
In recent times, prominent personalities from various fields have shed their inhibitions and come out in the open about the mental health issues that they have faced. Often the need to maintain a certain image proves to be a deterrent when you are in the limelight. However, by sharing their personal struggles they have created awareness about these topics, which were once considered taboo.
1. Deepika Padukone
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In 2014, while her work was being appreciated, Deepika was struggling with depression. In 2015, she became the first reigning Bollywood diva to break the silence about battling depression and even acknowledged seeking help for it. Proving her commitment to spreading awareness about it, the Padmaavat actress launched the Bengaluru-based Live, Love, Laugh Foundation, on World Mental Health day two years ago. It’s a non-profit organisation that offers help to those, who are dealing with similar ailments. This March, when she released a survey titled ‘How India perceives mental health’, she said, “I never thought about what people are going to think of me, will I be offered films or whether it will affect my popularity. With the help of the foundation, we want to change the narrative around mental health in India. Why only Bollywood? We want everybody in influential positions in the country to speak out about these issues.”
2. Gisele Bundchen
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Recently, in her memoir Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, the Brazilian supermodel and actress wrote about how she experienced suicidal thoughts, claustrophobia and panic attacks at the pinnacle of her career. The leggy lass credits her recovery to consulting with doctors and changing several aspects of her life including quitting cigarettes and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine. “Everything had become a cage, and I was the animal trapped inside, panting for air. I couldn’t see a way out, and I couldn’t stand another day of feeling this way,” she revealed, and as her panic attacks intensified, Giselle began contemplating thoughts about dying. “The idea swept over me: Maybe it will be easier if I just jump. It will be all over. I can get out of this,” she wrote.
3. Keira Knightley
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The English actress is the latest one to talk about her struggle with mental health issues. Recently, Keira revealed that she suffered a mental breakdown at the age of 22 and suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as she tried to deal with the challenges of fame. “I went deep into therapy,” she said, adding, “I actually did hypnotherapy so that I could stand on the red carpet at the BAFTAS and not have a panic attack.” It was her family’s support that helped her cope with it.
4. Shawn Mendes
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Known for his soul-baring songs, the young crooner revealed he was undergoing secret therapy sessions to combat anxiety. On the track In My Blood, he sings, “Laying on the bathroom floor, feeling nothing/I’m overwhelmed and insecure, give me something.” The 20-year-old Canadian who’s been famous since he was 15, says that fame definitely didn’t help. Speaking of dealing with his problem, Shawn said that therapy has helped tremendously. But it doesn’t have just one definition.
He said, “Therapy is listening to music and running on the treadmill, therapy is going to dinner with your friends — it’s something that distracts you, that helps you heal and so it just depends on what you think therapy is.”
5. Serena Williams
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The tennis star spoke about battling with Postpartum Depression (PPD) that she faced after the birth of her daughter, Alexis. Serena had a tough delivery due to an emergency C-section and developed blood clots in her lungs. After talking about her struggles on social media, saying, “Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk.” She added, “Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom.” The 23 Grand Slam singles titles winner received an outpour of support online. She has been open about the challenges of motherhood since the very beginning and often posts messages on her social media accounts to support mothers who may be facing the same.
6. Camila Cabello
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The former Fifth Harmony songstress spilt the beans about her daily experiences of living with OCD. “OCD is weird,” Cabello told a magazine, adding, “I laugh about it now. Everybody has different ways of handling stress. And, for me, if I get really stressed thinking about something, I’ll start to have the same thought over and over again, and no matter how many times I get to the resolution, I feel like something bad is about to happen if I don’t keep thinking about it.” Camila has learnt to deal with her anxiety. “Now I write in a diary every day, work out and meditate,” she said.
7. Pete Davidson
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The Saturday Night Live star has been making headlines for his engagement to Ariana Grande and grabbing eyeballs for his sloppy dressing sense. Pete has been dealing with multiple issues like smoking pot, failed rehab stint, suffering from Crohn’s disease and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In 2017, the comedian said, “I’ve been a pothead forever. Around October-September last year, I started having these mental breakdowns where I would, like, freak out and then not remember what happened after. Blind rage.” Davidson was diagnosed with BPD. Post it, he has adjusted to the medication he had been prescribed to treat it. “It’s working, slowly but surely,” he said.
8. Bella Hadid
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At the beginning of the year, the 21-year-old supermodel spoke about suffering from social anxiety on her mom Yolanda Hadid’s reality show, Making a Model. She said she’s a bit reserved compared to her sister, Gigi. When the younger Hadid sister was thrust into the spotlight and had to give red carpet interviews, she would often cry and shake from anxiety. She’d also “black out” while walking the runway — a common symptom of anxiety disorders. Though not completely over the condition, Bella is handling it better after doing more interviews.
9. Ariana Grande
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The pop singer opened up about coping with PTSD and anxiety post the bombing incident that took place at her concert in Manchester last year. In the explosion, 22 people were killed and approximately 59 others were injured. “I think a lot of people have anxiety, especially right now,” Ariana said. “My anxiety has anxiety... I’ve always had anxiety. I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour it was the most severe I think it’s ever been.” Ariana, who has been in therapy, has said that she tries to use her anxieties and emotions to create her art.
