Your Smile Is Your Best Asset: Ileana

Recently, there has been a huge surge in the level of awareness around mental health issues. With celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Honey Singh, Karan Johar and Illeana d’Cruz talking about their personal battles with "being well", the conversation is moving from hushed whispers behind closed doors to open ones happening beyond our living rooms and front and center at conferences.

The World Congress of Mental Health organized by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), the largest global alliance of mental health professionals, national health associations, NGOs, policy experts, and other institutions took place in the SAARC region for the very first time in Delhi from 2nd to 5th November 2017.

The World Congress 2017 was supported and peppered with mental health crusaders and stakeholders from all walks of life caregivers, receivers, media, and people interested in general wellbeing. The final day of the 21st World Congress of Mental Health was very special for it featured an extremely emotional tête-à-tête between the Organizing Chairman Dr. Sunil Mittal and renowned Bollywood Actress Ileana D’Cruz.

Ileana was conferred the Woman of Substance Award for her efforts towards raising awareness about mental health. In a candid dialogue, she revealed her thoughts and personal tryst with anxiety, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, and suicide.

Cruz like anyone else is human and vulnerable to mental health issues. Her brand of candor and honesty is the need of the hour. There is a great need for people to come out with their personal battles and empower those who are struggling, to find seek refuge with mental health specialists or alternative healers. To take note that there is no shame in talking about “not feeling well”.

Dr. Sunil Mittal, Organizing Chairman World Congress of Mental Health, Director CIMBS India, and Co-founder and Past President, Indian Association of Private Psychiatry, said, “Anxiety and depression are very common. About 60 million people live with depression in India. The first challenge is knowing that you are depressed. People suffer in silence, out of guilt, and don’t realize that they are suffering from depression. Ileana is a woman of substance for she did not only decide to fight against it but also encouraged others to seek help, raised awareness, and is trying to dispel myths in her own way.” Actress Ileana D’Cruz shared how she was always a very self-conscious person and was picked on for her body type.