MUMBAI: Somy Ali, who runs a US based NGO called No More Tears and works tirelessly for the victims of domestic violence and rape, took to Instagram to honour actress Deepika Padukone for her courageous admission of suffering from depression herself, and then going along and helping other deal with depression as well, through her foundation.
 
“Today, I would like to bow my head down and simultaneously salute this beautiful young lady. She has talent, intellect and above all, courage. As someone who knows what depression feels like and has inherited it from my mother. I THANK YOU! It’s never easy to be vulnerable and particularly a star of this caliber. You are a real hero! #deepikapadukone “ she wrote, adding, "There were days when I just didn't want to wake up, I would sleep because sleep for me was an escape," said Deepika Padukone”

She writes further, “An estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men.”

She shares another video where she details the importance of telling the truth. She praises actress Kangana Ranaut as someone who takes absolute responsibility for her truth and courageously says it. “A very brave, courageous young lady comes to my mind and Kangana Ranaut. And not only is she a phenomenal performer, but she's very brave and she's someone who I can tell from her body language, and having studied all of that, that she never lies. She always tells the truth. And hence I have a lot of respect for people that do that because it takes a lot of courage,” she says.

She adds, “In saluting what Deepika did, not only did she talk about having depression and having suicidal thoughts, but also she started a mental Health Foundation. That's phenomenal. And I don't think she got what she should have gotten in terms of the respect and honour and, you know, accolades for doing what she did and saying what she had said. And I just want to take this time to thank her as someone who does suffer from depression and is seeking help actively.”

She goes on to talk about how mental health disorders or even instances such as rape have always been hidden. “Be it India or Pakistan or wherever, even in America, we don't really give much light to depression or sexual abuse of children, children or domestic violence or, in India and Pakistan, rape. You have to hide it and, ‘Oh God, you're the perpetrators! (so) like (you are) the good person,’ and the victim (who) was raped is like the bad person. It's somehow if you're abused or raped or beaten, it's your fault,” she says.