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Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone shed light on the significance of being vigilant when it comes to your loved ones and noticing any uncharacteristic changes in them. She opened up about her journey and said she doesn’t know where she would be today had her mum not pointed out the signs and symptoms of depression in her, urging her to seek help.

The Padmaavat actor, who has battled depression in the past and runs mental health foundation Live Love Laugh Foundation, is currently in Tamil Nadu. She is expanding her foundation’s rural community mental health program ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, according to NDTV. Speaking to the publication, she stressed on the importance of caregivers for those struggling with their mental health.

On the family’s role in mental health, she said, “It is extremely crucial. Even in my personal journey, the role of the caregiver has been extremely important that’s why my mother is here, that’s why my sister has been so passionately part of this cause for many years and also therefore when I hear the stories of the caregivers, I understand how equally important that is as well, and the emotional well-being of the caregiver is as important as the emotional well-being of the person experiencing mental illness.”

She expanded on how her mother helped her see what the next step needs to be. “In my own case for example, had my mother and the caregiver not identified my symptoms, in my moment of vulnerability, had she not had the presence of mind to tell me to or help me reach out to the professionals, I don’t know what state I would be in today,” she explained.

She also talked about the effect it can have on the caregiver. “Ensuring I was regular with my treatment, with my consultations with the doctors — of course it takes a toll on the caregiver as well and that’s not something new. I think caregivers in general, whether it is mental illness or any other form of illness, it takes a toll on the caregiver.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, the Gehraiyaan actor has several movies in her pipeline. She will next reunite with Shah Rukh Khan for Pathaan alongside John Abraham, expected to release on January 25. She will star opposite Prabhas and Disha Patani in Nag Ashwin’s directorial Project K, star in American comedy film The Intern costarring Amitabh Bachchan and Siddharth Anand’s Fighter with Hrithik Roshan.