DNA Exclusive! World Mental Health Day: Andrea Jeremiah opens up on staying mentally strong during lockdown

October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day which is a very important topic to be discussed worldwide. There are several stigmas around the mental illness which several people are unaware of. Due to which, many celebrities who have gone through it become vocal about it to create awareness and urge people to seek help. South star Andrea Jeremiah had earlier published a book of poems titled Broken Wing wherein she penned a glimpse of her life. Now, currently, she is gearing up for the release of her Amazon Prime Video original Putham Pudhu Kaalai.

During an exclusive interaction with DNA, we quizzed Andrea about mental illness and how people have half baked knowledge about it. The actor spoke at length about how she kept herself mentally strong during the coronavirus lockdown. She stated, "See, to be honest, in terms of the lockdown, I think it's looking at the glass half empty or half full. Of course, it is depressing to be stuck at home sometimes, but how you use that time, it can be quite magical. A lot of people got to spend time with their families. I learned how to cook. I took a little bit of gardening, I started writing, I started reading a lot again, I started playing the piano again. So for me, it was a beautiful way to reconnect with myself."

Andrea further said, "I think that's the case with life itself. In general, if you look at something as an opportunity for growth, then every hardship or every obstacle can, in fact, contribute to your personal evolution and growth. Of course, sometimes we do need some help. Depression or any kind of mental illness is a real thing. It is, yes! But having said that, it's the same, even with cancer, different people approach it in different ways. It's all in in the individual's approach, I would say."

In the trailer of Putham Pudhu Kaalai, we see Andrea's character consuming drugs. Currently, there's a prejudicial mind going on in a few people's minds that depression and drug abuse are interconnected. 

On being quizzed about the same, Andrea replied, "I wouldn't agree with it. As simple as that. I think there's absolutely no connection. Absolutely none."