At 13, Shaheen was dealing with depression but was diagnosed when she turned 18. Today, along with her mother, Soni Razdan, Shaheen is vocal about her battle with mental illness. As part of Mind Matters, we tell you why they feel it is important to normalise talks around mental health, how one can help, and more
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 24, 2020)

In a chat, Shaheen Bhatt spoke to us about what it means to be depressed, how people can help in such situations and the need to normalise the conversation. Excerpts:

It becomes increasingly difficult for someone with depression to reach out for help. How can one help that person in this situation?
Depression restricts your ability to effectively communicate. It curbs your ability to love and be loved. Ironically, you need this the most when you are going through depression. All you can do as a loved one is to be present and assure the person that you are there for them. That’s what my family does for me. It’s also important to consult professionals if you think that someone you know is going through something. As someone who has faced depression, it helps to know that someone is there for you.

A lot of people are yet to come to terms with the fact that mental illness is a matter of concern and needs attention.
The only way to acknowledge or normalise something is to have a conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it gets. I often get asked this question in context to corporates dealing with mental health issues of their employees. If you lead by example, people will feel comfortable talking about it. Unfortunately influential people rarely talk about it much. Depression and mental illness have always been around. With more people and means of communication, we hear about it frequently now.

‘He/she had money, love, fame, success... why were they depressed?’ What would you say about arguments like these?
It’s incredibly hard to pinpoint why a person is depressed. It’s a chemical imbalance that can be caused by so many things. For me, it was a chemical component that kicked it off, but it progressively became more psychological. Statistics show that every person, at some point in their life, is likely to face some version of mental illness to a certain degree.

While it depends on person to person, what are some of the warning signs of depression?
Major warning signs of depression could be changes in your sleep pattern and appetite. You will either sleep a lot or sleep too little. You will either eat too little or eat a lot. In my case, I started binge eating and slept very little. I had terrible insomnia. Persistent low mood that stays for at least two weeks is another warning sign, as is loss of energy. Trust your instincts. If you feel something is wrong, something could be wrong. It’s always worth investigating.