‘Communication is key to being mentally healthy’
Like her peers, Gulki Joshi, too, gets many messages on social media from her young fans. The actor connects with them not just about her work but also about their problems such as exam stress, being stuck at home during the lockdown and mental health issues.
Joshi says she tries to respond to as many messages as possible. She adds, “My only advice is to have a conversation with their parents and teachers and to communicate about what’s bothering them. And, if needed, seek professional help. I feel communication is the key to being mentally healthy.”
The Nadaan Parindey Ghar Aaja (2014) actor urges parents to make their kids feel at ease with them so that they can talk to them. “Teachers and society should help create an environment where the youth and teenagers are able to express what they are going through and not feel ashamed of anything,” she says.
Joshi admits that since the pandemic, mental health has been a talking point. “Mental health has always been a serious issue and in the recent times, we hear more people talking about it. During the pandemic, people realised that when you are stuck at home and you can’t run away to another place, you have to face your own demons. It was high time that mental health becomes a priority for us all,” she says.
Having faced low phases in her life and career, the actor, who stars in a comedy TV show, shares that she relies on her friends and family for support. “I do go through low phases in life. There are times when it seems that nothing is working out. But I always make sure that I talk about how I am feeling. Sometimes, I even talk to strangers about my thoughts but the important thing is to let it out,” she ends.