'They didn't take their own lives': Deepika pens letter after Bourdain, Spade deaths

In the wake of the twin tragedy that struck us with acclaimed chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade losing their lives to depression, Deepika took to social media to once again shine the spotlight on the seldom-discussed ailment. In a long, poignant note, Deepika poured out her feelings.

“Every 40 seconds, a person dies by suicide. We are reminded of these grave statistics when the loss is centred around prominent individuals who are mourned across the world. Last week, the world lost two of its shining stars to the growing epidemic that is depression. They did not take their own lives. DEPRESSION did,” she wrote.

Drawing attention to the insidiousness of the disease, Deepika touched upon how those suffering from depression rarely let it show. “To the outside world, they seemed ‘happy’. They seemingly ‘had it all’. Then how did they “fall” into depression?” The element of depression that is grossly misunderstood is the belief that you have control over your illness. In reality, you don’t. You are not in the driver’s seat anymore, the illness is,” wrote the actress.

Deepika also talked about the stigma that surrounds the mental ailment. She says in her note, “Depression today is a growing epidemic, yet there is so much stigma attached to it that individuals are often dissuaded from seeking help. Asking someone to just “snap out of it” is the equivalent of telling someone with a broken leg to continue walking.”

Meanwhile...
On Wednesday afternoon, a fire broke out at Deepika’s building. The 32nd floor of the building at Beaumonde Towers caught fire. The reason for the fire is yet to be determined. A source close to Deepika has confirmed that the actress was not in the building when the fire broke out as she was out for a shoot. The actress stays on the 26th floor of the same building. Reportedly, 95 residents were evacuated from the area and 4 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.