After Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone mustered up the courage to go public about her battle with depression early this year, she has launched her foundation 'Live, Love and Laugh' on World Mental Health Day. It aims to help people deal with depression.
Deepika had earlier announced that she wants to help others as she didn't want anyone to go through what she did. She hopes to bring about a change in the lives of those in need of help. She had also said that there is shame and stigma attached to talking about depression in our society. But, this has to change so that more and more affected people can talk their way out of depression.
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In January 2015, revealing her own battle with depression, Deepika had said that while she was earning accolades in the beginning of 2014, one fine day she woke up feeling different and empty. She refused to communicate this problem to her parents until one day when she couldn't bear it and broke down in front of her mother, Ujjwala Padukone. Her mother referred her to a psychiatrist and after a few sessions and medications, Deepika was back to her happier self.
Also read: 'Overcoming depression has made me a stronger person,' says Deepika Padukone
Deepika was showered with appreciation on Twitter: