After Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade shocked the world by committing suicide last week, Pakistani celebrities took to Twitter attacking stereotypes & taboos surrounding mental depression.
Pakistan is taking seriously the advice dished out on social media and talking about depression. After Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade shocked the world by committing suicide last week, Pakistani celebrities took to Twitter.
Reham Khan, in wall-to-wall Pakistani coverage already albeit for totally different reasons which have to do with ex-husband Imran Khan, attacked the stereotypes and taboos surrounding mental health problems. Compassion and understanding, she said, were key to battle the condition of a suffering individual. Khan tweeted:
Mental health patients are still stigmatised by society & their suffering is ridiculed. Celebrities are constantly driven by others to work more towards material goals leading to more depression. We need more understanding https://t.co/RmpYWqMOsf
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) June 8, 2018
Actress Mahira Khan, a household name in India after she was paired with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Raees’ said in a tweet that the lack of awareness on depression is itself a problem. She tweeted:
What is depressing is that there isn’t enough awareness about depression/mental health itself. https://t.co/79zd5ZKSZj
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) June 8, 2018
While the well-known singer Meesha Shafi pitched in with her view :
Whatttt???? First @katespadeny now @Bourdain
Near and dear suffering from depression need professional help/healing/therapy plus all our compassion, patience and understanding. This will only come if we educate ourselves and raise awareness. https://t.co/IANTaRDjJr
— MEESHA SHAFI (@itsmeeshashafi) June 8, 2018
Pakistani model and socialite Freiha Altaf tweeted that more women than men were victims of depression. She tweeted:
Statistics show that 300 million people suffer from depression and more women than men. Fortunately it is curable and must not be treated lightly. Signs of depression are sadness enthusiasm lack of energy etc. If not treated can lead to self harm ans in some cases suicide.
— Frieha Altaf (@FriehaAltaf) June 9, 2018
The suicide of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has shocked the world . He was found in her hotel r in Paris while shooting for his CNN show ‘Parts Unknown’.
Earlier on June 6, New York-based fashion designer Kate Spade hung herself to death too at her apartment.
The two incidents have sparked a much needed conversation around depression and its effects on the internet. Like Deepika Padukone, Karan Johan and Ileana D’Cruz in India, who have come clean with their own struggles to stay afloat in glamorous Bollywood, Pakistani celebrities are now openly talking about the toll that depression takes in a conservative society like theirs.
Not long ago, singer Momina Musteshan had posted a video of her experience on her Instagram handle, and spoke about her own journey fighting the mental disorder. “Everyone has struggles. I have had struggles. Depression isn’t a myth, it’s REAL”, the 25-year-old had written.
Deepika Padukone launched The Live Love Laugh Foundation – an initiative to spread mental health awareness – in October 2015, after she revealed that she had suffered from depression for three years.
Discussion around mental health issues is crucial in spreading awareness and breaking the stereotypes that exist around the problem. Enrollment of celebrity names into the cause offers legitimacy and at the same time draws more people into the discussions.