10 october 2024 : Navigating a long career in the entertainment industry can be challenging. Actor Nakuul Mehta, known for his openness on mental health issues, admits that even he finds it “very hard to share some of the deepest challenges” with those closest to him. He explains, “We all face mental health challenges, just as we do physical ones. It will take time to normalize this and treat it with the same seriousness as other health concerns,” he shares on World Mental Health Day.
Nakuul adds, “We openly say, ‘I have a fever and can’t come in.’ Mental health should be treated the same way, and we should feel comfortable taking a mental health day off. In our cluttered, comparison-driven world of social media, it’s only natural that we’re all dealing with varying levels of mental health struggles. Some have tools like meditation or spiritual practices to cope, but everyone is still managing challenges. It’s difficult for me as well. I bottle things up at times, but it’s essential to talk about the struggles we face.”
He also emphasizes the need for more mental health awareness. While discussions have increased, there’s still a long way to go. Addressing men’s mental health, Nakuul reflects, “Men tend to share less about their struggles, often due to conditioning. Growing up, we didn’t see men in our families share their problems, leading us to believe it’s a sign of weakness. We need to change that and be more open and available. I, too, find it hard to share my deepest challenges with those closest to me.”
Nakuul believes that the type of content consumed through films, OTT platforms, and TV shows needs to evolve to promote better mental health awareness. “In our shows or films, men often take on the responsibility of holding the family together, while female characters express emotions and solve issues. Pop culture plays a significant role in raising awareness. When writers create more emotionally expressive male characters, it will help normalize conversations about mental health. Currently, heroes are seen as strong and loving, but rarely open up emotionally,” he concludes.