Actress and singer Shruti Haasan opens up about her mental health struggles. She believes that everyone feels the need to speak up. Music helps in keeping mental health healthy.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every eight people worldwide suffers from a mental disorder, which is characterized by a disturbance in a person’s cognition or behavior. Despite this, many people are not willing to talk about mental health issues or visit a therapist. Slowly and steadily celebrities around the world are speaking openly about their mental health battles. This can lead to a much-needed discussion on this important aspect of health. In India, actor-singer Shruti Haasan does not hesitate to share her learnings from her struggle (Shruti Hassan interview).
An overview of health issues on social media
When Shruti is not applying greasepaint or getting behind the microphone, she often addresses health issues on social media. Some Indian celebrities have been open about anxiety and seeking treatment. She wonders why mental health is talked about unnecessarily. According to her, mental health needs to be in the spotlight, as the mind is the “main controller of everything we do in our lives”.
Awareness about mental health
Whether through her social media handles or through interviews, Shruti Haasan has never shied away from talking about how mental health issues have affected her life.
In an interview with Health Shots, Shruti Haasan says, “I have always talked about mental health because I have truly experienced the benefits of mental health awareness and therapy myself. It was such a personal and important journey for me. I felt I should talk about it openly and share it with others, especially because there has always been an unnecessary stigma in society.
Health related issues should also be discussed on social media
He believes that most people are willing to do things like doing yoga, visiting a dietitian or taking a gym membership for their “looks and appearance” or health. But they are not ready to talk about mental health. What could be the reason behind this?
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Acting debut
“If you are willing to spend time, money and energy on all these things, I wonder why you don’t pay attention to mental health. Social media doesn’t let health issues get to us,” says Shruti. She made her acting debut as a child artiste and then as an adult artiste in 2009 with the Hindi action-thriller Luck.
Shruti had a question about her own journey. Shruti says she didn’t know she had anxiety for a long time. “I was always questioning myself as to why I wasn’t able to function and stay calm with the same ability as other people. For me, understanding anxiety really came through therapy,” shares Shruti.
Therapy and conversation
During the session, she and the therapist talked about the tools she could use. On World Mental Health Day on October 10 last year, Shruti had spoken about the benefits of therapy. At the time, she had written on Instagram, “I can’t tell you all how many nights I have lost to therapy and talking – it has completely changed my life. It’s important to know what works best for you. It’s always important to accept that it’s not a weakness of any kind. You just need to help yourself.
Shruti Haasan is in favour of a strong support network
When it comes to mental health, a strong helping network is essential. This is because the people in that network are the ones who can help you deal with tough times in life. Shruti, daughter of veteran actor Kamal Haasan and Sarika, says that people in her circle, including her family or friends, were “really supportive” in her journey. “They have always known how I communicate. How I try to be transparent about my journey.
Shruti Haasan on music and mental health
Music has many health benefits. This is something that has been a big part of Shruti Haasan’s life. Apart from Hindi films like Gabbar Is Back and Welcome Back, she has also acted in Telugu and Tamil films. These include Oh My Friend, Yevadu, Race Gurram and Vedalam. She has also been entertaining her fans through music. The singer of tracks like Luck Aazma, Alvida, Edge and Monster Machine says that music has been an important part of her life.
Music is important
“Music has been important to me. It’s not just about sharing it with others and feeling love and appreciation for my voice or writing. Having that moment with music is very important to me personally,” Shruti explains.
Shruti also finds joy and learning in reading interviews of musicians she admires. Hers has been an inspiring journey.
Finally, Shruti says, “Like Tori Amos and Chris Cornell… all of these people are extremely open about their journey through darkness and light. That’s a big part of what inspired me to speak about my journey (Shruti Hassan interview).”
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