It’s 10th October today and that means it’s World Mental Health Day. From celebs to politicians, people are taking over the social media space by writing encouraging messages and experiences of their own. Shama Sikander, who has been vocal about her battle with depression in the past, says it is important for people to open up about mental health and share their stories. As a celebrity, Sikander takes the opportunity to talk about such issues, and, she has been using social media to raise as much awareness as possible. She also urges that it’s time to fight the mindset and conditioning of people.

It was a few years back that Shama herself shared with the world her experience about undergoing problems and said that she had zero hopes about making it through. Suffering from bipolar disorder also made her experience bouts of depression and anxiety as well. However, with courage and sheer strength, Shama was able to sail through the tough times and called it a “rebirth”:

She says ” Mental illness situations drive you to lose hope and desires and that is the darkest space any human being can ever be in. I’ve been through it and survived by just an inch and that’s what makes me believe that no one should ever have a problem and be afraid to speak about it. Taking help from people around when you’re at your lowest is a sign of strength and there’s nothing wrong in being vulnerable. Everyone in their life has been vulnerable from time to time. Thats what makes us human.

The theme of 2022’s World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’ and we hope that this year, more and more people come up and share their stories thereby normalizing mental health and eliminating the stigma attached to it.