Urwa, Mawra think depression, mental health issues exist 'just because of food'

It's high time celebs stop trivialising an issue as important as mental health and depression

Another day, another ill-informed statement passed by local celebs.

In a recent appearance on Nida Yasir's morning show, the Hocane sisters, Urwa and Mawra, were promoting their upcoming clothing brand; U X M.

Things were going pretty well until the host started talking about mental health and depression. In a clip that has now gone viral, the sisters share how one's mental health is affected by 'what food you're putting inside your system'.

https://twitter.com/Affansaifullah1/status/1158739822158077952

"Aaj kal kitne maslay hain, ke yar depression hogaya, mental 'disease' hogai, it's all because of food! Aur koi reason hi nahi hai. (We hear so many people say that they are suffering from depression, they have mental 'disease', it's all because of food. There's no other reason)," Urwa can be heard saying in the clip.

"It's what you put in your body," Mawra added.

Many called out the two for their 'uneducated' statement.

"Prof Dr Urwa Hocaine and Prof Dr Mawra Hocaine telling the real risk factor of depression and anxiety," one user wrote.

https://twitter.com/hassan_saleem22/status/1158872785168601089

"Urwa and Mawra's comments belittling mental health were problematic but they are simply reflective of our general attitude. As a general rule of thumb, it is never wise to talk about something authoritatively that you have not experienced yourself," added another.

Urwa and Mawra's comments belittling mental health were problematic af but they are simply reflective of our general attitude.

As a general rule of thumb, it is never wise to talk about something authoritatively that you have not experienced yourself.

— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) August 6, 2019

"Depression and other serious mental health illnesses are unique and different from the general 'happiness' and 'sadness' that you feel. Please do yourselves a favour and talk to somebody who has actually experienced clinical depression to educate yourselves," the user continued.

Depression and other serious mental health illnesses are unique and different from the general 'happiness' and 'sadness' that you feel. Please do yourselves a favour and talk to somebody who has actually experienced clinical depression to educate yourselves.

— Shehzad Ghias Shaikh (@Shehzad89) August 6, 2019

"Height of ignorance. Depression and other mental illnesses have several causes, such as trauma, genetics, environmental triggers etc. What you eat is NOT the only thing that causes depression. Urwa and Mawra, please do your research before saying such statements," said one.

Height of ignorance. Depression and other mental illnesses have several causes, such as trauma, genetics, environmental triggers etc. What you eat is NOT the only thing that causes Depression. Urwa and Mawra, please do your research before saying such statements https://t.co/MS6w0Y0zGn

— Manal Faheem Khan 🇵🇸 (@ManalFaheemKhan) August 6, 2019

Others reacted with memes.

Psychologists and people studying psychology as their major after seeing urwa and mawra's talk about depression.#MawraHocane #UrwaHocane @MawraHocane @VJURWA #depression #mentalhealth pic.twitter.com/rbSAVE7J6c

— Marium Osama (@_mariumO_) August 6, 2019

Did URWA HOCANE REALLY SAY FOOD MAKES U DEPRESSED

— rameen (@stylesspaceship) August 6, 2019

so according to urwa and mawra, the cause of depression is eating the wrong kind of food smhhttps://t.co/gFPdf7Mnye

— nana⁷ (@tsumuly) August 6, 2019

https://twitter.com/PAlNTERTAE/status/1158769632242806784

It's high time celebs take responsibilities for what they might say on national television. Trivialising an issue as important as mental health and depression is never okay.

So, no Mawra, Urwa. The root cause of depression and mental health isn't just food.

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