Your mental health struggles are valid and these celebrities will tell you the same

October 10 marks World Mental Health Day and while we may have progressed in terms of artificial intelligence, there’s still a stigma surrounding mental health that keeps many from talking about or even acknowledging they might have a condition.

It is always refreshing, however, to see those with influence muster up the courage to normalise such discussions. And the number of Pakistani celebrities who have come forward with their own mental health struggles or attempted to create awareness around the same has increased over the years. Thus, to mark this World Mental Health Day, from Zara Noor Abbas to Hania Aamir, here’s a lowdown of public figures who have reminded us time and again that we may have to sometimes fight our demons alone, but we are not the only ones fighting.

Zara Noor Abbas

In September, Zara opened up about her history of dealing with depression while arguing about the need for greater empathy on the part of medical professionals in a podcast with Frieha Altaf. The 31-year-old actor also shared how she was denied anxiety medicines despite asking for them to help her sleep through the night. The actor had primarily spoken about the 'traumatic' aftermath of stillbirth, the negligence of the healthcare system and society’s lack of applause for women who pick themselves up after such a grave loss.

In June 2020, spoke about how the lockdown had given her severe anxiety, which she recalled brushing off after confusing it for work-induced stress. But in isolation, she realised she needs to get herself checked. And that’s when she was diagnosed with borderline clinical depression and the doctors recommended her medicines and therapy.

Yashma Gill

Prior to Zara, actor Yashma Gill had also opened up about her struggle with depression to help raise awareness about the matter. Taking to her Instagram, Gill had penned an elaborate note saying, “I’ve talked about this before, talking about it again and will keep talking about it till it doesn’t become normal. As someone who has had first-hand experience of depression, panic attacks, and anxiety so severe, I can’t stress enough about the importance of reaching out and seeking help."

She continued, to emphasise on how people need to stop confusing depression with sadness. "Sadness and depression are two different emotional states with depression being way more difficult to carry. It’s dark, hollow, emotionally debilitating, and can take a toll on your logical thinking leaving you feeling hopeless,” she said.

Mawra Hocane

In September 2019, Mawra had revealed her struggle with social anxiety. “I developed anxiety recently and I’ve been battling with it one day at a time. For everyone who is reading it and has suffered, we are all in this together," she had shared in response to a fan. In January 2020, sharing a clip from her drama serial Daasi, she wrote, “We all have our days of weakness and breakdowns, I am lucky my job allows me to express my grief on screen. It’s been over a year since I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety and I’m no longer embarrassed of it. It’s a part of me like the sky is blue but I’m definitely better equipped to deal with it as grow with it and begin to understand it. don’t run away from my friends and family when I’m having a panic attack, I share with them and I feel I’m stronger than my condition. I’m putting this out because I want all of you who fight anxiety every day to be okay with it and not be ashamed of it.”

Hania Aamir

In February last year, Hania Aamir shed light on the importance of taking care of oneself while once again, emphasizing on the need to focus on one’s mental health. "Self-care is essential. Be vulnerable and ask for help when you need to; there is no shame in reaching out for help. Spend some quality time with yourself. Indulge in activities that truly make you happy. Take care of yourself and it will eventually lead to a beautiful and more positive outlook on the world."

Momina Mustehsan

In 2018, Momina Mustehsan delved, "Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we all hit points in our lives sometimes when all seems to be falling out of our control.” This was not the first time the Awaari singer talked about depression. She revealed she has also experienced severe panic attacks. “I woke up having a severe panic attack because I almost hit my threshold. Yes, those are real. And they crush and paralyze you for the moment. But that moment stays for as long as you let it stay. I always try dealing with all my problems by myself, but I reach out to people close to me when I know I could use help. Please know that it’s okay to reach out for help. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.”

Humaima Malick

In June 2020, following Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's demise, the Dekh Magar Pyaar Se star took to Twitter writing, “Mental health! Take it seriously please, help people who need it. If you see anyone around you who isn’t feeling their best, please help them instead of asking them questions. Our minds get hurt just like our hearts"

Imran Abbas

"Mental illness isn’t a joke," the 35-year-old actor wrote on Instagram after model Anam Tanoli committed suicide. "Please don't look down to people suffering from depression, mental ailment, stress and anxiety."

He further added, "Before judging anyone or making fun of someone (specially who is deceased and who can't explain/clarify her/himself) we must look around and try to be nice to people who are suffering from the circumstances which can lead a person to suicide (which certainly is one of the most forbidden acts in our religion) In our society it's so convenient to slut-shame an actress and model, scoff at anyone for any rhyme or reason. Making jokes about people who’ve committed suicide does not make you a comedian. It is not dark humor, it is condemn-able humour.”