After Hania Amir, Mahira Khan, Usman Mukhtar & other known names, Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has also opened up about her struggles with mental health issues.
Mental health is real, it matters, and affects more people than we think it does. Yet, it’s often ignored or dismissed in our society. We tend to overlook the signs or dismiss them as insignificant. Society’s stigma surrounding mental health also makes it hard for people to seek help.
However, Pakistani celebrities are stepping up one by one to share their battles with mental health, shedding light on a topic often considered a no-go and sharing personal stories about how life is not always rainbows, but dark clouds too. It’s disheartening that we don’t discuss it openly enough. Yet, Saheefa Jabbar Khattak’s courage shines through as she candidly addresses mental wellbeing in a recently released podcast alongside Ahmed Ali Butt.
In the realm of fame and glamour, the struggles of mental health are often overlooked, but Pakistani actress Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has always been breaking the silence. Known for her captivating performances, and recently concluded drama Rafta Rafta, in which she delivered a notable performance, Saheefa recently made headlines not for her on-screen talent, but for her courageous revelation about her battle with mental health issues. After a four-year hiatus from the silver screen, Saheefa returned to the screen, but who knew that she had long been grappling with inner turmoil?
In a recent podcast interview with Ahmed Ali Butt, Saheefa opened up about her harrowing experiences with mental illness, She shared. “Sometimes, things deteriorate to the extent that even healing takes time to reach you.”
She spoke candidly about reaching a breaking point, recounting moments of despair and desperation. “When I went to Canada, I was 30 pills down and I had told the hostess before taking my plane seat that I’m 30 pills down. I am going through shit for two months.”
Further elaborating on her condition, Saheefa said she called her mother at 06:00 am, pleading for immediate action to prevent a potential tragedy: “Take the first flight if you don’t want your daughter to jump from the sixth floor… because it is really bad.” Despite her mother’s prompt arrival, the situation rapidly worsened, leaving Saheefa drained within a matter of days. With desperation mounting, Saheefa’s mother reached out to her father, urging him to join them without delay, fearing the worst for both herself and her daughter.
By sharing her story, she encouraged others to seek help and break the silence surrounding mental health issues.
Celebrities often face relentless trolling on social media, where their every move is subject to intense scrutiny. Despite their efforts to discuss mental health issues like depression, they also encounter the risk of misinterpretation.
We all hold a responsibility to maintain positive online interactions, shaping a more supportive digital environment and a better global community. Through their public platforms, celebrities bravely shed light on mental health struggles, garnering widespread empathy and understanding. Their willingness to share not only their own experiences but also amplify the voices of those less privileged is commendable.
