Deepika Padukone to Discuss Mental Health with WHO Chief amid Coronavirus

Deepika Padukone was diagnosed with clinical depression in 2014, and aims to eliminate the stigma around mental illness with the help of her foundation "Live Love Laugh Foundation.”

She is an advocate of mental illness and has often opened up about her battle against depression publicly. In order to spread awareness and importance of mental health amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Deepika will be interacting with the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

DP will go live on Instagram with the WHO chief on Thursday at 7.30 pm IST. "Prioritizing mental health during the pandemic and beyond... Join Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO and I, as we discuss the importance of mental health during the #COVID19 pandemic and lessons we can learn for the future," she shared in a post.

Ghebreyesus too expressed his gratitude on Twitter towards the Piku actress for her efforts against mental illness amid COVID-19. 

“Thank you @deepikapadukone for your efforts and advocacy on the importance of #mentalhealth during this difficult time of #COVID19 we are all facing. I look forward to our @instagram Live on Thursday. Together!” the WHO Chief wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Deepika had opened up about her battle against depression at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. “One morning when I woke up and I felt all was well, I fainted. Luckily the house help came and saw me on the floor. I was taken to a doctor and I was told it was nothing and probably just some blood pressure fluctuation or something like physical tiredness. Those were the first physical signs. For a long time, I just felt like sleeping, not going out, not meeting people” she said at the event.