It’s not ‘selfish’ to take care of your mental health: Kriti
Actor Kriti Kharbanda isn’t one to hold back when it comes to talking about mental health, especially in the current scenario, which is only adding to people’s miseries. “I’ve been very vocal about my mental health. I’m someone who has sought help in the past when I was going through a certain kind of ordeal in my life,” she says, adding, “It’s also very important to talk about domestic violence cases in India, which is disturbing and sad. It has come down to this, that we discuss it so vocally, yet people aren’t realising how wrong it is.”
When it comes to mental health issues, Kharbanda feels acceptance is key, adding, “A lot of people don’t accept it, even I didn’t the first time. I felt a bit depressed, but I didn’t realise that I needed help till my friends talked to me.” And that’s when she first took the initiative of taking care of herself.
“Honestly, when we take care of ourselves, it’s termed ‘selfish’. It’s not selfish, taking care of yourself and wanting to be happy, mentally. It’s normal, but it’s called selfish because people are not used to putting themselves first,” she adds.
What baffles Kharbanda, 31, is the attitude some people exhibit when you speak up about mental health. “It’s always about ‘The whole world is going through it, why are you crying?’ This is the reaction from most people. Having said that, I don’t care what’s happening to the rest of the world, because my mind is scre*ed! I understand the world is going through it. They have the power to deal with it, you don’t have the mental capacity for it. That is step one, you wanting help,” she maintains.
The actor goes on to explain how technology has come to the aid of those facing mental health woes in the present times. “I know a lot of mental health NGOs taking on cases on video calls and providing therapy. I myself am one of those people who have received it,” she shares.
SPOTLIGHT: HEALTH & WELLNESS THIS FORTNIGHT, HTCITY WILL THROW THE SPOTLIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED CHALLENGES IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS