On June 14th when the news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death surfaced, many people across the world were left heartbroken and shocked.
Though it was reported that the depression was the main cause behind Sushant’s decision to commit suicide, the investigation is still on to understand the reason behind it.
Recently we found ourselves in the middle of a debate, when writer Apurva Asrani schooled Soni Razdan on Depression and how it is not only family history but also the external environment that can pull people down into depression.
The whole debate started with a simple tweet of Bollywood writer and editor Apurva Asrani as he shared how blind items against Sushant were “vicious & cowardly”. Here’s the complete tweet:-
Attacking soft targets like KRK, while keeping mum on the more powerful ‘blind item’ experts is sheer hypocrisy. KRK is vile, but atleast has the guts to put his name to his opinions. Rajeev’s blind items against #SushantSinghRajput are vicious & cowardly. Don’t be selective.
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 6, 2020
Even the actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted in the support of Ansari, but actress Soni Razdan penned down a long note on how people are not giving due importance to mental health and depression as “the real issue” in this scenario.
@Apurvasrani What’s really bothering me in all this is the fact that the real issue – depression and mental illness – is now obfuscated by sound and fury. The point being that depression does not need a reason to engulf a person. It comes unbidden to the successful, the rich…
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
…as much as anyone else. Think Robin Williams Kate Spade Anthony Bourdain and countless others. When you talk around the main issue you do a great disservice to all those who may be also suffering and think it’s due to external circumstances when in fact…
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
it’s due to an internal one that the person suffering cannot control.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
Being ignorant of the fact that even external factors and circumstances could lead to depression, she said it is actually “internal” factors and circumstances and not external ones that can engulf a person.
However, Asrani disagreed with her and called her out for diagnosing the reason behind Sushant’s depression on social media, calling it “unfair”. Check out his tweet:-
Untrue ma’am. Depression can be triggered by environmental factors like social isolation & a stressful workplace too. Unfair to diagnose Sushant’s depression on twitter. But we do know of a campaign to label him a rapist, unprofessional & a write off. It shouldn’t be covered up. https://t.co/qwwnZkqX3h
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 7, 2020
Mental illness is something most people are born with is the only point I’m trying to make and you can’t have half the discussion and not the other half. Triggers can be many I agree. By all means discuss but there is a lot that’s unfair on Twitter right now too.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 7, 2020
Again untrue. Most people are not born with mental illnesses. There are triggers that can cause the onset (do read this article). While there is much i.e unfair about Twitter, more unfair are the camps & the bullying. Sad that no one wants to discuss it. https://t.co/L5lqoUYgU3.
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 7, 2020
It runs in families Apurva. I can’t go into details on twitter but am happy to have a conversation about it with you anytime. I agree it’s very complex and one shouldn’t jump to conclusions either ways. All I was saying is right now it’s seeming to be one sided.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 7, 2020
At IFORHER, we are extremely happy that people have started having a conversation about mental health and illness. But what is heartbreaking is the fact how people on social media, without any degree, are wearing expert hats to talk about Sushant’s depression. This could do more harm and than good, and needs to be dealt in a mature way.