Celebrities are now more forthcoming about their mental health — does it have a real-world impact? — The ESTD.
Since actor Deepika Padukone’s revelation about her battle with depression in 2015, numerous Indian celebrities have followed suit, sharing their personal struggles
India grapples with a pervasive tendency to sweep concerns surrounding mental health under the carpet, creating an atmosphere where acknowledging and addressing such issues is fraught with trepidation. Navigating the path from recognising one’s mental health struggles to actively seeking help is often a journey shrouded in apprehension. However, in such a landscape, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, while at the top of her career, played a pivotal role in dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health.
In a groundbreaking moment on national television in 2015, Deepika courageously unveiled her own battle with depression in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, thrusting discussions about therapy, psychological needs, and mental well-being onto the forefront of public discourse. In a cultural milieu where such topics are either mythical unicorns or dreaded skeletons relegated to hushed whispers, Deepika’s revelation marked a revolutionary turning point, bringing the topic of mental health onto the collective dinner table of our consciousness.
Deepika and her husband, actor Ranveer Singh, recently graced the couch on television chat show Koffee With Karan, engaging in a refreshingly vulnerable and candid conversation with the host Karan Johar. The resonance of the discussion extended beyond the celebrity spotlight, particularly as Johar shared his own experience of breaking down after the inaugural gala at the NMACC a few months ago, highlighting moments of profound vulnerability.
Divija Bhasin, a 26-year-old counseling psychologist, influencer, and founder of mental health organisation The Friendly Couch, who watched the episode, shares, “I appreciate how candid they were in this conversation. They did not try to pose as experts but rather talked about their personal journeys. I appreciate how they mentioned the importance of visiting a professional.”
All of this collectively begs a compelling question about the influence of celebrities in shaping discussions on mental health, encompassing both the positive contributions and potential drawbacks. A study titled Perceived Efficacy and Intentions Regarding Seeking Mental Healthcare, conducted by Parul Jain, Uma Shankar Pandey, and Enakshi Roy, highlights a vital observation in India, which boasts among the highest depression rates globally. The study, comprising 206 participants, found that parasocial interaction with celebrities often mediated the impact of exposure on individuals’ intentions and perceptions of efficacy in seeking mental healthcare.
This collectively begs a compelling question about the role celebrities play in fostering discussions on mental health — both the positive impact and potential drawbacks. Since Deepika’s revelation about her battle with depression in 2015, numerous Indian celebrities have followed suit, sharing their respective personal struggles. From Sameera Reddy’s postpartum depression to Shah Rukh Khan’s journey through depression following a shoulder surgery, Illeana D’cruz’s experience with body dysmorphia, and Virat Kohli’s candid admission of combating stress and anxiety, the collective narratives contribute to a growing dialogue around mental health within the realm of fame.
IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT
It also reflects a broader societal transformation in our perception of mental health struggles. Today, there is a more empathetic response to public figures opening up about their mental illnesses — a stark departure from the past when such revelations were treated as insensitive tabloid fodder or an opportunity for pity and condemnation of their lifestyles.
Notably, figures like yesteryear actor Parveen Babi, remembered primarily for her schizophrenia, were defined by societal perceptions of “madness.” Similarly, icons from the 1950s and 60s, such as Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, and Geeta Dutt, who grappled with depression due to romantic setbacks, met tragic ends due to their mental health challenges, often exacerbated by alcoholism. Yet, in their time, there was no substantial conversation surrounding mental health, and the film industry itself faced criticism for its perceived lack of values and morals contributing to these issues.
An advocate undergoing therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who prefers to remain anonymous, revealed that Deepika sharing her story had made a significant impact on her. This advocate expressed feeling a sense of relief and self-acceptance, citing a previous incident where actor Jackie Shroff had publicly dismissed the significance of depression and mental health issues. The contrast in perspectives, with Deepika’s openness and Shroff’s dismissiveness, underscored the importance of diverse narratives in shaping understanding and empathy surrounding mental health.
Clinical psychologist Meghna Singhal, also known as the Therapist Mommy on Instagram, emphasises, “Celebrities talking about mental health has tangible effects because I think it also helps people think more intentionally about their mental health and their psychological needs, which is very important.” She notes encountering individuals who have sought therapy as a direct result of public figures openly discussing their own mental health.
Psychologist and subject expert at Lucknow University, Swapnil Sinha, asserts that this influence operates at a subconscious level: “A patient has never explicitly told me that they are here because some celebrity talked about their own struggle, but there’s subconscious awareness that makes them feel okay to come and ask for help.” Sinha attributes this phenomenon to the space celebrities create for the conversation around mental health to unfold.
Deepansh Duggal, a journalist undergoing therapy for anxiety for over a year and a half, articulates this perspective, stating, “At times, celebrities pave the way for us, and they do it in a manner that we don’t realise until years later how ground-breaking that particular move was.” He further emphasises that during his research and discussions about seeking therapy, a consistent theme emerged from conversations, about how Deepika battled depression and came out fine, which meant that he would too. Duggal reflects on the impact of such stories, noting, “It’s interesting how stories like hers can really provide that reassurance when you’re going through a tough time.”
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH
Deepika founded The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) in 2015. Since then, the foundation’s CEO — and her sister — Anisha Padukone has been at the helm of it, with the organisation’s core focus being “awareness, accessibility, and affordability.”
When questioned about whether the celebrity backing of Live, Love, Laugh contributes to an increased reach and trust from the public, Anisha affirms,, “The celebrity or the brand value ensures an initial recall. However, if there is no impact in what we’re doing, you’ll forget about it in an instant. But if we are able to help and support you, it’s something you will, hopefully, remember for the rest of your life. That is what we at TLLLF are passionate about.”
Moreover, while Anisha considers Deepika sharing her story in the television interview with Dutt a “watershed moment,” she is also adamant that it can’t be accomplished by just one person or a few individuals. Deepika’s initiative sparked a snowball effect. “From a celebrity perspective, I think it surely gets highlighted a little bit more, but I think if the intention is not right or you’re not doing it with the right amount of authenticity, people will be able to see through that,” shares Anisha.
She goes on to emphasise that, beyond fame, it is relatability that plays a crucial role in destigmatisng conversations about mental health. This perspective led to the initiation of the #NotAshamed campaign in 2018, with the goal of sharing individual narratives of courage and strength. Prior to this campaign, there had not been a nationwide effort displaying faces, names, and designations alongside mental health issues on massive hoardings, making it a groundbreaking move. In terms of impact, Anisha notes that it encouraged people to summon the courage to be open about their own stories.
“Largely, up until that point, the narrative was primarily centered around Deepika, and we wanted to normalise mental illness in the sense that it affects anybody from any cultural and socio-economic background, which is why some of the participants were from our rural programme,” claims Anisha.
Padukone emphasises the importance of moving beyond anecdotal evidence and advocating for data that substantiates emerging theories. Nevertheless, there is severe paucity of facts and figures when it comes to illustrating a correlation between celebrities disclosing their mental struggles, and the awareness warrants on-ground in India.
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Padukone, however, draws from a study conducted by TLLLF in 2018 and 2021, titled How India Perceives Mental Health. The results from 2021, derived from 3497 participants, underscore a noteworthy trend: 65 per cent of respondents developed their comprehension of mental illnesses through social media.
The confluence of social media and the influence wielded by celebrities — particularly through their social media channels — can exert a tremendous impact in extending awareness around mental health to the farthest corners of India. A 2022 study published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences aimed at illustrating the impact of celebrity disclosure on mental health-related stigma, elucidates a significant phenomenon. Traditionally, individuals have regarded celebrities or much-admired public figures as superior — a concept termed “vertical identification.”
However, when people establish a stronger connection with celebrities, recognising shared characteristics like comparable struggles or feelings related to mental health, in this case, they feel what is known as “horizontal identification.” It is through such identification that celebrities contribute toward diminishing stigma, particularly given the heightened accessibility facilitated by social media today.
Deepika’s #NotAshamed campaign video on YouTube surpassed two million views and garnered over 3,000 comments, with people applauding her transparency about mental health. Many shared their own struggles using the foundation’s hashtag. One user commended her for risking potential negative effects on her public image, stating, “It’s commendable that she chose openness to reassure others in the same boat that it’s okay.”
Sameera Reddy, who has had a successful acting career in Bollywood, strategically employs her Instagram to advocate for mental health through candid Reels and content. Addressing her post-partum depression in a post that received over 89,000 likes, she sparked a wave of relatable comments. With nearly two million Instagram followers, Reddy’s audience resonates with her authentic, vulnerable, and relatable posts, fostering a sense of what one can refer to as horizontal identification.
MISINFORMATION AND PSEUDOSCIENCE
There’s also a case to be made about pseudoscience and misinformation when it comes to celebrities speaking about mental health. Bhasin is of the strongly opines, “If a celebrity talks about mental health using pseudoscience or false information, then more misinformation could be spread. They could also influence people the ‘wrong’ way by talking about mental health in a condescending manner. Some celebrities may try to pose as experts and discourage people from seeking help. I remember singer Honey Singh talking about it that way.”
To paint a vivid picture, Singh, who openly acknowledges his struggle with bipolar disorder, dissuaded individuals from seeking professional help, likening mental health to a common cold. He suggested that spending time with family or friends could make it disappear. Such irresponsible discourse surrounding mental health has surfaced on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile, Singhal further highlights the potential detrimental impact of celebrities discussing mental health. She states, “There is a risk of generalisation, which may lead people to believe they have a mental health condition when they may not. In India, where there is already a significant demand/supply gap in the realm of mental health, such behaviour could add pressure to an already stressed-out system.”
Despite all that has been discussed, one certainty remains — we have a considerable distance to cover in terms of education and accessibility regarding mental health. While celebrities play a crucial role in dismantling stereotypes and yielding tangible effects, there is still much work to be done in this realm. In the words of Anisha Padukone, “As a country, we’ve just begun to address mental health, but we’ve made a lot of big strides in the right direction.”
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