'Depression and anxiety are disorders, not weakness of character'

Congress leader Rukshmanii Kumari while practicing meditation at home. Picture/Twitter Rukshmanii Kumari

After Congress leader and former MP Milind Deora opened up on his tryst with suicidal thoughts, another Congress politician joined the mental health conversation on Twitter and shared her experience how she overcame depression and anxiety disorder. The issue of mental health has gained attention after actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging at his residence in Bandra on June 14. The 34-year-old actor is is believed to have taken the drastic step after battling depression for a few months.

Key Highlights:

• Congress leader Rukshmanii Kumari said that she battled depression and anxiety disorder and was not ashamed to admit
• Rukshmanii Kumari's confession comes after Milind Deora recently shared a post that he had suicidal thoughts
• Conversations on mental health issues have taken priority after actor Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic death
• Actor Shamita Shetty and comedian Danish Sait have also spoken about battling depression
• Talking incoherently, spending too much time in darkness, sleeping odd hours are signs of mental health, Kumari stated in her post

A day after actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death highlighted the need to address mental health issues, Congress leader Rukshmanii Kumari, who is the President of All India Professionals Congress in Rajasthan took to the micro-blogging site to open up about her battle with depression and anxiety disorder. The 40-year-old politician from Rajasthan also said that the mental health issues do not define who she is as a person.

Here's what Rukshmanii Kumari posted:

Rukshmanii Kumari said, "Depression and anxiety are disorders, not weakness of character. I am not ashamed." The Rajasthan Congress leader also said that amongst the many roles she plays, she is also a business woman and also an active politician. While confessing her tryst with depression and anxiety disorder, she said that mental health issues should not be seen as weaknesses of character.

The Congress leader also shared the five effective tools Milind Deora had suggested to fight depression and mental health issues. While raising awareness on depression and the increasing number of suicides due to mental health issues, Rukshmanii Kumari wrote, "Reach out I am always there!" Expressing shock and disbelief over Sushant SIngh Rajput's death, Kumari offered her condolences to his family.

After opening up on her battle with depression and anxiety disorder, the Congress leader has been creating awareness on the effects of mental health issues. Kumari, who is a member of the erstwhile Royal family of Choumu said that the COVID-19 pandemic will push thousands of people in India on the brink of a mental health crisis.

Explaining the mindset of a person battling depression, Kumari said that those suffering mental health issues are not likely to reach out for help as they mostly cut off or recoil in their own world. She further said that most people are not equipped to read the symptoms or the onset of a mental health.

Talking about signs, the Congress leader urged people to pay attention to a person who talks incoherently, like spending too much time in darkness during daytime, and sleep a lot especially at odd hours. "Often families of someone exhibiting these symptoms stay in denial and choose silence because of the stigma around mental health," Kumari tweeted.

Following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, several celebrities including actor Shamita Shetty and comedian Danish Sait have opened up about their battle against depression and other mental health issues.

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