Hania Amir and her recent confession about her mental health deserves applause, while also bringing to mind other courageous celebrities like Mahira Khan, Usman Mukhtar, and many more who have shared their struggles.
Mental health is very real…yet would it be wrong to say we as a society still struggle to grasp the extent to which it can affect lives? Not really. From many who shun the entire concept of mental health, to those who consider the mere mention to being equivalent to having lost all mental capabilities and in our societal lingo, gone insane?
Ah, the list of society’s ignorant, unkind rebuttals is long and to be very honest redundant as far as we and many who believe in the importance of being mentally and physically healthy are concerned.
According to a study conducted by Pew Research Centre, Comment sections can turn into insults, threats, arguments, and harassment if left unchecked. In fact, a 2014 Pew Research Center study found that 22% (one in five) Internet users had been victims of online harassment in the comment section of a website. As per another article, a psychologist stated negative comments are a significant problem that affects many people, including those who are on the receiving end of such words. Negative comments on social media can be hurtful and cause people to feel anxious, stressed, and even depressed.
Mental health problems will look different for everybody. The conditions, the triggers, the root causes will be different for all so each person’s struggle is a lesson, an awareness and most of all, a reminder to be kinder. Here are 3 celebrities and their side of the story on mental health.
1. Mahira Khan
In an interview with FUCHSIA Magazine, Mahira reminded us of something we might easily overlook or fail to realize: when you think you’ve forgotten your past traumas or simply haven’t dealt with them, it’s not that simple because the body surely remembers and reacts to them. ‘But your body, bones, blood, and heart remember all kinds of trauma.’ ‘Over the past few years, I have developed this muscular issue, and I am certain it’s because I haven’t dealt with my trauma. I think therapy is very important.’
In another interview, Mahira opened up about her experience with mental health struggles, her triggers and her diagnoses. She said that her mental health suffered after stepping into Bollywood with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, and the 2017 incident, where pictures of her with actor Ranbir Kapoor went viral.
The backlash and trolling and judgement was severe, she went on to say “That (backlash) brought out the anxiety and depression hidden inside me. That was a hard time for me. I felt attacked. The constant backlash… You are getting mean tweets, and comments on their channels (Indian channels). That was a time my faith broke and I developed severe anxiety to the point that one day I had a panic attack and fainted. That was the first time I went to therapy. But that didn’t work out, as I went to several therapists… that year was rough… I couldn’t sleep, my hands used to shake.”
Mahira also discussed about the 2016 attack in India, after which Pakistani actors were banned from working in Bollywood.
Mahira said, “I had finished the film (Raees) and everything was going fine and then suddenly this attack happens. Politically everything gets messed up. With India, it is always political. But the fact that it could get this messy! I was not scared, but I was threatened. Constant tweets I would get calls, and very scary ones. The only thing I wanted was that ‘Okay fine I can’t go to India to promote but I hope it releases in my country because I knew people would rush to watch it as he (Shah Rukh Khan) is loved here.”
2. Usman Mukhtar
While talking about his experience with boarding school in his childhood with FUCHSIA editor, and founder, Rabia Mughni, he said most of the anxiety he suffers from, stems from a specific phase of his life. He said: “I really suffer from anxiety. I figured out most of it comes from the time I was in boarding school because I was really young, when I went. I really missed home, it was a very strict place. The kids with me there weren’t that kind. I would never put my child in boarding school. It’s a good place for discipline but what all are you letting go off for discipline?”
In another instance, in an interview with another publication he opened up: “I was doing this drama and I was let go because the production thought I was overweight. We had shot for one whole week, and after that they told me we are letting you go because you’re overweight. I thought maybe I had made a big mistake choosing this career when this happened. Suddenly, I got a call from HUM saying they wanted to cast me in a production. By that time, I was in depression so I was just eating all the time.
At the point that I was let go from the first production, I honestly don’t think I was overweight but I started eating and gained like 30 kilos. So when I got this call from HUM, to play this guy called Altamash I was like have you seen me recently? But we had time. The shoot was supposed to start after 2 months but somehow got delayed by a couple of months and by that time I had lost weight.”
3. Hania Amir
As always, the queen of keeping it real, didn’t hesitate this time either. While renowned for her bubbly, lively, and infectious energy, as well as her vivacious Instagram reels and stories, she effortlessly spreads light and positivity to her fans and friends alike. However, in what she described as a very honest moment on her Instagram account, she shared her struggles, bravely confronting the dark clouds she faces and finding her way through them. The key takeaway from her admirable confession is that, no matter how cheerful and lively someone may appear, you never know the battles they might be fighting, so always be kind.
Furthermore, seeking help should never be a matter of debate or overthinking. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for assistance from your loved ones or a professional. The stigma and embarrassment surrounding seeking help will only hinder societal progress.
All these stars have a larger-than-life social media presence and routinely face a lot of trolling. Whatever they say or do is often interpreted in a more complex context than intended. While we applaud them for discussing depression and mental health, we also have to understand that any of our offhand comments can hurt someone online, especially if made without much thought or on a bad day.
We should all be careful about what we post online to create better online communities and a better world overall. These celebrities, with their public platforms, are able address mental health issues and garner public support for a very trying moment in life indeed. In the course of their conversation, they also provide a voice for those who may not have the same opportunity.
