Kal Ho Naa Ho and Bhootnath actor Delnaaz Irani, who has been part of shows like Kabhie Kabhie Ittefaq Se, Yes Boss, and Shararat, says there was never much awareness around mental health and hence it has always been ignored.
Speaking on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, which is observed on October 10, she said, “Mental health is a real issue, but for years, it wasn’t properly understood or addressed like physical health. When people get sick, they seek help, but mental health is often ignored.”
Sharing her personal experience, she said that whenever they as a family discussed the topic of depression, her mother replied that during their time they didn’t even know what it was. “My mother would explain that they raised kids and managed everything, but even if they felt low at times, they didn’t have a name for it. Years ago, people didn’t know about mental health the way we do now, but it still existed. Maybe they described feeling ‘low’ or ‘not great’, but they couldn’t express it properly,” she said.
On a personal level, she tries to stay happy and positive and remind herself that “this too shall pass”. She added, “Whether you are feeling low or on top of the world, it helps keep things in perspective.”
She also pointed out that in a fast-paced city like Mumbai, everyone should slow down. “Everyone is in a rush, often competing without even knowing why. I have told myself and my partner Percy to take it easy, even when we are busy. We make time for holidays and staycations. Now that we have our dog Coco, we have extra responsibility but also extra happiness. We took Coco on a staycation recently, and it was a much-needed break,” she said.
With all being said, she highlighted the importance of self-care and said, “At 52, having started my career at 17, I realize I need to remind myself to slow down. Work is important, but self-care is more important. I take small breaks to recharge and come back rejuvenated.”
Two mental health tips? “Surround yourself with positive people and avoid toxic ones. Focus on your mental happiness. If you’re feeling stressed, step away from those people or situations. When things aren’t going well, I trust that there’s a higher power who will bring better things. Focus on staying happy and appreciating the small joys in life,” Delnaaz ended.
