Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone was honoured with the annual Crystal Award at World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 in Davos, Switzerland. The Padmaavat star was awarded for her contribution in spreading awareness around mental health. She is the only Bollywood actress to have received such an honour at the Davos summit.
While receiving the award the Diva also opened up on her struggle with depression. She asked people to understand that depression and anxiety are like any other illness and can be treated.
Deepika said, “My love and hate relationship with this has taught me a lot and I want to tell everyone suffering from this that you are not alone,” she said while recalling her own struggle with depression and mental illness. One trillion dollars is the estimated impact of depression and mental illness on the world economy.”
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She added, “In the time it has taken me to accept this award, the world has lost one more person to suicide. Depression is a common yet serious illness. It is important to understand that anxiety and depression is like any other illness and treatable. It was experienced with this illness that encouraged me to set up Live Love Laugh.”
Deepika Padukone had gone public with her own experience with anxiety and depression. Motivated by her own experience, she has set up her foundation to provide awareness programs in schools in India, funding for free psychiatric treatment, medical education programs, public awareness campaigns and more.
On the work front, she will next be seen in Kabir Khan directorial 83 with her husband Ranveer Singh.
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