Mental health issues have been on a rise since some time now; as much around the globe, as in India. Let us see the plight of such cases globally, talking of celebrities. Common people might feel that celebrities they look up to in everyday life are truly fortunate. The shimmer-glimmer of the near-perfect life they seem to have with successes, applauds, and luxurious sophistication, might make their world seem to be problem-free, and them to be too lucky. As common people might see themselves as not that fortunate and as strugglers in the big ring of challenging life, a deeper, coveted truth is not revealed to them yet.
As big is the glory and lauds celebrities receive, so big are the challenges that they have overcome. Naturally, they have had to prove themselves in front of the entire world, yet fighting their demons, their fears, insecurities, their relationship issues, and most importantly, their success- handling issues. They could not have made it through the long road without strengths such as perseverance, grit, bravery, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and without magical quality-resilience.
Their battles with depression and mental struggle are not that known but lately, celebrities are being open about these, and we have heard the stories of quite a few head turners. Let us see what some of these popular faces have to say about depression and mental health. Such stories compel us to evaluate the importance of subjects like resilience training and Positive Education and prod us to give a thought to the importance of resilience training across the globe.
One of Hollywood’s highest paid actors, The Rock’s Verbatim, states in the Express, a British newspaper, ‘Struggle and pain are real.’
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, who witnessed his mother in a suicide attempt and even saved her from the loss, was aged 15 years during this ugly encounter. ‘Depression never discriminates,’ he tweeted later, ‘I realized it but lately that it is instrumental for resilience to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes who hold this tendency to keep it within. You’re not alone in the struggle.’
Lady Gaga opens up about her struggles. The pop star, whose hits include “Paparazzi” and “Poker Face,” is a living example of a lifelong struggle with both depression and anxiety. Gaga bravely admits that she takes medication for depression. In an interview with Billboard magazine, she even realised the importance of people opening up about their mental health, ‘If we share and also stick together, we’re stronger.’
The actress in the movie Frozen, has said that she’s been facing depression since her college days. Bell says, ‘There’s nothing weak or shameful about facing mental illness and related struggles.’ She has gone in public and shared vividly about the traumas.
The Harry Potter writer, who entertained millions, felt despair while bringing joy to others through her magical novels. Her dark moods manifested in soul-sucking creatures known like Dementors. In her words, ‘It’s very difficult to describe [depression] to someone who’s never experienced it because they understand it as sadness,’ she told Oprah Winfrey in 2010, ‘But it’s an absurd absence of any feeling – an abject hollow.’
Talking of the issue in India, one of the most successful Indian actresses of this era, Deepika Padukone shared about her battle with depression in the year 2015. She shared her beliefs and intentions about liberating such issues from stigma. She suggested the use of counseling sessions which help in resilience training. This helped her in her winning journey. Such trends and evidence suggest the pressing need for Positive Education and resilience training in India.
Ileana D’Cruz has always shared about her battle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. The successful actress shared that her situation had caused her much depression and even pushed her to the brink so much so as to make her feel suicidal. The actress emphasised on the fact that mental health, like any other disorder, should be given treatment. It is very much curable. This also alludes to the fact that resilience training has such a crucial place in education for kids. Probably when Deepika Padukone and Ileana were growing up, Positive Education and resilience training in India were not a concept. But today they are evidently a highly relevant and required concept and must be given much due.
Furthermore, the present times are beckoning. Mental distress has been pushed to the brim. Bollywood has seen alleged suicides of Sushant Singh Rajput and Jiah Khan. Though Sushant’s case is under investigation, this much seems sure that he was alienated from close ones in his last days. Such communication and social disconnect can cause quite dire situations.
In all spheres of life today, be it education, family harmony, relationships, and even peer pressure, suicides are rampant in youths, in all classes of people. The global pandemic Covid-19 has fuelled this trend more. It is high time that we accommodate Positive Education and resilience training in India.