‘I want to tell everyone suffering from depression that you are not alone’, says Deepika Padukone 

Bollywood star Deepika Padukone was felicitated with the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum for her contribution to mental health awareness.

While accepting the award, Deepika opened up about her own experience with mental illness and how it drove her to start The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

At the event she gave a powerful speech, talking her heart out on her battle with depression and anxiety. She talked about how her own struggle encouraged her to work towards spreading awareness on mental health. She is the founder of Live Love Laugh foundation that helps people suffering from depression.

"In the time it has taken me to accept this award, the world has lost one more person to suicide. One trillion dollars is the estimated impact of depression and mental illness on the world economy," the superstar said.

She concluded by saying "My love and hate relationship with this has taught me a lot and I want to tell everyone suffering from this that you are not alone."

Deepika has been running the foundation since June 2015. The foundation's programmes and initiatives include nationwide public awareness and destigmatisation campaigns, adolescent mental health programmes, funding support for treatment in rural communities and more.

Deepika represented India at the forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, this year she also made her debut as a producer with Chhapaak which talks movingly about an acid attack victim and her fight to ban the sale of easily available acid in markets.

(With IANS inputs)