Kubbra Sait isn’t afraid of speaking her mind – ‘however hard it may be’ as she puts it. From speaking about abuse, and relationship issues, to having dealt with bullying and growing up with a sense of lack of belonging, on World Mental Health Day today, the actor-author reinstates that one should never feel insecure about seeking help. “It is amazing how both dental and mental health are not covered by insurance. I don’t understand; how can I smile if this brain is not working?” she quips, as she opens up about dealing with the challenges surrounding mental health.

People always passed comments at me; they said I was too lanky, they made fun of my curly hair and green eyes. They called me a snake and said I should be punished. I was bullied in school. I was bashed as a human when I was young. I did not have a personality where I could speak freely to my mom or anyone in the room, let alone an audience.

Unfortunately, the time that we live in is a generation of instant gratification. It’s like, maine bol diya toh ho jaana chahiye. Maine socha, kar dena chahiye, but these things take time. It takes a while before you can see the change being implemented and people being a part of that new change; new society. We are talking about breaking, bending and moulding things that have been set in iron casts for years. Now, all of a sudden, if we say we need to change everything overnight, it’s impossible. But, what we can do is we can work on ourselves.

I know that mental health and speaking to a therapist is not the most viable solution when you don’t come from a financial backing that’s strong. You’re not mad if you see a therapist. Also, do not believe that your friends or parents can be your therapists. Only someone who is truly unconditional and non-judgemental can help you. Seeing a therapist is a very novel idea for many; it’s an expensive idea. So, I tell people to journal. Write every morning: note down three things that you’re grateful for. People do think this is nonsense and it doesn’t work, but it really does if you’re disciplined about it. I can say this for sure because I have done this; I do it. It might be hard to talk to someone, but when you keep talking to yourself, you’ll realise that the problem is so deeply rooted within you.

We speak so much about our mental state of mind, but we are yet to accept our physical state the way it is. Even today, body dysmorphia is a thing. Your mental health begins to deteriorate from how you see yourself physically. Imagine, we are struggling with that at the very basic level. So, imagine how much more we need to work towards accepting ourselves, the way we look and the way we speak and sound.