Filmworld
Fight against depression close to my heart: Deepika Padukone
Mumbai, Aug 6
Actress Deepika Padukone, who
has personally been a victim of depression, feels it is a major health
issue in the country today and needs to be addressed.
"The fight
against depression is a cause very close to my heart and is one of the
largest health issues facing the country today. Having experienced
depression in the recent past, I realise how difficult it is to
recognise the problem, find information and get the right kind of
professional help," Deepika, who launched the logo of her “The Live Love
Laugh†Foundation on Twitter on Thursday, said in a statement.
The
NGO is dedicated to addressing the issue of mental health in India. The
foundation's logo is based on the idea of hope and freedom.
"I
was fortunate to get the kind of support and through this platform I
hope others get the same kind of help. My team and I are working hard to
set up the foundation and the logo launch is a small step in that
direction,†the “Piku†actress added.
The flying birds in the
logo signify this very essence of the foundation. The logo also has a
baseline “Foundation Against Depression†that represents its mission.
Deepika
first spoke about her plans to set up the foundation in an interview
with a news channel. She talked about how she had experienced depression
and took professional help to overcome it.
The actress then
decided to start a not-for-profit organisation that would focus on
increasing awareness about mental health as an issue, reduce the stigma
around it and enable support to people affected by mental health issues.
The
foundation, which was registered on June 1, will engage with
institutions, professionals and other organisations in the field of
mental health.