Deepika at the launch of 'Live Love Laugh' foundation [VIDEO Pg 6, 7]

On World Mental Health Day, the actress is hosting distinguished guests from the field of politics, sport, business, media, medicine and entertainment to discuss the issue and how to combat it.

October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day with the idea of spreading awareness, discussing and debating concerned issues and mobilising support to make mental health care a reality. Keeping these objectives in mind, Deepika Padukone is hosting a high tea today to discuss the objectives of her foundation and its plans for the future with the country's decision makers.

This year, on March 21, the 29-yearold actress announced her foundation, Live Love Laugh. It was on this day last year, that she decided to seek professional help for depression. On August 6, she unveiled the logo.

Today's guests list includes distinguished dignitaries from across fields, including Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. Other politicians are Aaditya Thackeray, president of the Yuva Sena, and Shaina NC, BJP spokesperson.

The world of sports will be represented by her father, Prakash Padukone and another badminton ace, Saina Nehwal, along with billiards champ Geet Sethi. Nita Ambani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Nandan Nilekani, Kumar Mangalam Birla and Adi Godrej are among the corporate honchos.

From her own film fraternity, Deepika has invited the Khans, Aamir and Shah Rukh, filmmakers Shoojit Sircar and Ronnie Screwvala and lyricists Javed Akhtar and Prasoon Joshi to name a few.

There will also be a distinguished panel of doctors drawn from different parts of the country, including psychiatrist Dr Dayal Mirchandani, orthopedist Dr Mathew Varghese, acupuncturist Dr Tasneem Raja and consultant anaesthetist Dr Krish Ramachandran.

Also, present will be some of the biggest media barons.

Early this year, Deepika had surprised everyone by confessing to anxiety attacks, while shooting for Shah Rukh Khan's production, Happy New Year, in 2014. Despite being on a professional high, the actress had woken up one morning feeling "different", and despite her best efforts, the feeling wouldn't go away.

Finally, urged on by her mother, Ujjala, she turned to a psychologist friend from Bengaluru who diagnosed that Deepika was suffering from anxiety and depression. A second psychologist confirmed this. So, after wrapping up the film, she took a two-month break during which she underwent counselling and was prescribed medication.

On returning to Mumbai, she learnt that a friend, who was suffering from the same ailment, had committed suicide. That's when she realised that the illness was common to almost every household but remained largely untreated because of the stigma attached to it, The idea of the foundation grew from the need to encourage those going through a personal crisis to seek help from mental health specialists.

The high tea today is a first-of-itskind initiative in the field of mental health, taken by someone from the entertainment industry. A source said, "All her guests have responded positively to her personal invitation. Many have confirmed their presence. Those not in town may send spouses and partners as representatives."