‘One morning when I woke up and I felt all was well, I fainted’: Deepika on depression

A day ago, Deepika Padukone received World Economic Forum’s prestigious 26th Annual Crystal Award for her extraordinary contribution towards the cause of mental health. The actress has been vocal about her suffering from depression and started Live Love Laugh foundation for those who are seeking help for their mental illnesses. On Tuesday, Deepika Padukone had a conversation on mental health with WHO Director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He praised her on Twitter and wrote, “Delighted to discuss #mentalhealth with @deepikapadukone at #wef20. Your openness and vulnerability are helping others to seek help and helping to break down stigma. @WHO look forward to working closely with you. There is no health without mental health. #Letstalk.”

At WEF 2020 in Davos, Deepika Padukone revealed that she used to lie whenever asked how she was doing. Recalling the time when she was diagnosed with clinical depression, the actress revealed, “Mental illness happened to me when I had least expected it.

I was at a professional high, my movies were doing great and I was in an amazing relationship. Everything was going just perfect. One morning when I woke up and I felt all was well, I fainted. Luckily the house help came and saw me on the floor. I was taken to a doctor and I was told it was nothing and probably just some blood pressure fluctuation or something like physical tiredness. Those were the first physical signs. For a long time, I just felt like sleeping, not going out, not meeting people.”