Mahesh Bhatt reveals his daughter attempted suicide at 12

Shaheen Bhatt will launch a memoir in which she speaks of her grapple with the mental disorder

Talks about anxiety and depression have been making rounds on social media of late. Whether it's the general public speaking out after model Anum Tanoli's death or film industry bigwigs sharing their own experiences, we could all use a dose of awareness in this day and age.

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone opened up about her battle with depression last year and now veteran director Mahesh Bhatt has revealed how the disorder has affected his family, reported Pinkvilla.

PHOTO: PINKVILLA

Sharing his stance on the condition, Mahesh stated, “It’s a form of mental illness and it can be treated. When you suffer from diabetes, you take insulin shots. Similarly, when you are prone to depression you need to consult a doctor who can treat you through medication. But, I think in our country, we are falling behind in spreading awareness about mental illness. In almost every household people are suffering from depression.”

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The film-maker who is gearing up for The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City's release continued, “My daughter Shaheen, Alia’s elder sister, discovered that she was suffering from clinical depression at the age of 16. In October, she is launching her own memoir in which she has talked about the kind of struggles she has gone through.”

He further revealed that Shaheen was once at the verge of taking her life. “She also came to a point of attempting suicide at the age of 12, so this is the truth of my own house."

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ SHAHEEN BHATT

The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City addresses sensitive topics such as loneliness, communal harmony and mental health that exist in Indian society.

In retrospect, Shaheen previously wrote about her struggles with depression in a leading magazine. “I’ve lived with depression since I was 12 years old and since then I’ve been suicidal on more than one occasion. I’ve experienced the sheer terror of contemplating a life filled with unrelenting anguish, and I’ve been consumed by the terrifying thought of having but a single means of escape from a bleak, unbearable future,” she had said.

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