Former Congress MP Milind Deora Opens Up About His Mental Health Issues

Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide has prompted Milind Deora of the Congress to open up and share his own experience with depression. In an interview to NDTV, Deora, who served as a union minister at the age of 32, said that public figures who speak up about the challenges of mental health issues can help many others.

Deora told NDTV that he is in therapy and consults a psychiatrist who has been crucial in improving his mental health. He suffered three bouts of depression, one when he was a teenager, the second when he was an MP in 2006, and the third in 2013.

Deora said he was 16-17 when he first encountered suicidal thoughts and felt helpless. He said his mother sent him to a shrink in Mumbai but it didn’t work beyond 3-4 months.

The second time he experienced it was in 2006-2007 when he was an MP. “I spent both those years suffering from intense depression and suicidal thoughts. Somehow, I managed to get by with help from family and friends,” he told NDTV.

“I always sought help from my family and sometimes, from close friends, who I later discovered also had the same problem. During my third wave in 2013, I sought help from a Delhi-based psychiatrist who was extremely helpful. I continue to remain in touch with him even today.”

He said after seeing people on Twitter comment about Sushant Singh’s alleged suicide, he just felt like sharing his coping tools wherein he learned and continues to learn to reduce the amount of pressure he put on himself.

“For those of us who suffer from chronic bouts of depression or anxiety, the hardest part of life is learning to live with yourself. If my speaking out helps save lives, I’m glad I did,” Deora was quoted as saying to NDTV.

He said although he sought professional help only in 2013, his advice is that it’s best to do so immediately before one’s head gets all tangled up in knots

The former MP said that it was important to overcome the stigma of mental health and seeking counselling.

“I’ve realised over the years, that everyone goes through self-doubt, anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts in some shape or form and that the best way to tackle it is by sharing your experiences with others. There is strength in numbers.”