Deepika Padukone recently appeared on the Spotify podcast ‘Archetype’ hosted by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. The episode, which also featured the participation of American actress Constance Wu, delved into the importance of taking care of our minds. During her conversation, Deepika, a leading voice in mental health and wellness in India, said, “It’s [mental health] in the same way that we have physical ailments. Our mind is a very important part of our body. But somehow, when it comes to mental illness, we start to treat our minds as if they’re outside of our bodies.” In many parts of the world, including India, mental health and conversations about it are still considered taboo, Deepika clarified.
“There are two parts to this. One is, I think, where people struggle the most, especially in India where there is so much stigma attached to mental illness: raising awareness. Most of us don’t even know that we are battling mental illness.
And second, if we’re going to de-stigmatize it, so people know it’s okay to seek help and caregivers know it’s okay for someone to go through this.” For Deepika, her family has been a critical support system. She says: “Today is about the little things, like hugging my sister or just late night conversations with my husband – those are the moments that really fill me today.”
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