Let's stop nonsense of psychiatry and healing through words says Mahesh Bhatt

 

By News Helpline, Mumbai - 05th December, 2019

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has said that people in the society need to stop the non-sense of practice of psychiatry and healing through words.  He added that people within their families need to talk to each other when it comes to depression and mental health.

Mahesh Bhatt was interacting with the media at his daughter Shaheen Bhatt’s book launch named ‘‘I’ve Never Been (Un)Happier’ along with his daughters Shaheen Bhatt, Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt and wife Soni Razdan on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Talking about depression and mental health, Mahesh Bhatt said, “There is no happy ending to it. She (Shaheen Bhatt) has told me that she stills goes through phases of depression. Just six months back, she went into a dark space so first of all, let us as a society be brave enough to say that we don’t have answers neither do medical practitioners have the answers. I think the National institute of Mental Health needs to be asked a question that ‘Is it a psycho-biological problem?’ so that stop this non-sense of psychiatry and healing through words. If I have headache, you can’t cure me while talking to me. If the diabetes is a biological problem, you need a physical intervention.”

He added, “I don’t know but she decorous enough to talk about it. I am 71 and she (Shaheen) is 30. It’s not an academic book. It’s a journey of a woman who is writing about those harrowing days. I am certain that if she has coped with it even you will. So as a society, let us sit down and talk about it.”     

Alia Bhatt couldn’t control her tears while listening to mom Soni Razdan read an excerpt from sister Shaheen’s new book, about her struggles with depression.

When asked Alia what is her personal view on depression, she said “I would like to suggest people to read this book. My personal views are only confined to my sister (Shaheen Bhatt). I have spent so much time with her but now, I have started realizing what she feels about it. I think about what I could have done better. I think it’s important that Shaheen also tells us what we could have done better or what we can do in the future for her.”

Alia added, “I feel this book is for everyone, people who have been depressed, people who have never been depressed and they will understand a lot from it. She (Shaheen) told me that I want people to feel that it’s okay to talk about it and its important to talk about it so, that’s why we are doing this. We could have this conversation in our home as well and we had this conversation in our home in our individual capacity.”