Tunisha Sharma’s death and our neglect of mental health
When you glance at 20-year-old Tunisha Sharma's social media feed, you will likely be deluded by her jovial posts and upbeat personality – we now know, after her tragic passing, that it was not a bed of roses for her by any means.
Tunisha allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself on the set of a TV show in Maharashtra, during a tea-break in the midst of shooting "Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul". In a recent viral video that was shot only 20 minutes before her presumed suicide, it was seen that she was getting ready for her shot.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. While it is unacceptable that someone as young as the actress would contemplate taking her own life, mental health and mental health counseling is an oft-ignored necessity in showbiz.
In a matter of hours, her mother filed a complaint against Shezan Mohammed Khan, her co-actor from "Ali Baba", with whom she broke up with only 15 days prior.
At a very young age, Tunisha had undeniably achieved a lot, becoming a recognised name by playing Chand Kawar in "Maharana Pratap", Ayadhya in "Internet Wala Love" and Zara/Babli in "Ish Subhan Allah", among other beloved characters.
What adds to the shock is that just 10 hours ago, she posted a motivational quote on Instagram. "Those who are driven by passion don't stop," she wrote.
Irrespective of age, mental health affects everyone, as UNICEF recently reported that sometimes serious mental health conditions are dismissed by citing hormonal issues.
According to UNICEF, 14% of the world's adolescents experience mental-health problems. Globally, among those aged 10–15, suicide is the fifth most prevalent cause of death, and for adolescents aged 15–19 it is the fourth most common cause. Moreover, a staggering half of mental health conditions start by the age of 14.
The gap between diagnosis of mental health in young adults and the help that reaches them is alarming, and the lack of awareness and stigma against taking help is partially responsible as well – one would often refrain from seeking help in fear of getting mocked.
All this while rates of depression and suicidal behaviour increases among young adults, as suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds according to a report by World Health Organisation.
The report adds that depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
Tunisha allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself on the set of a TV show in Maharashtra, during a tea-break in the midst of shooting "Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul". In a recent viral video that was shot only 20 minutes before her presumed suicide, it was seen that she was getting ready for her shot.
While it is unacceptable that someone as young as the actress would contemplate taking her own life, mental health and mental health counseling is an oft-ignored necessity in showbiz.
In a matter of hours, her mother filed a complaint against Shezan Mohammed Khan, her co-actor from "Ali Baba", with whom she broke up with only 15 days prior.
At a very young age, Tunisha had undeniably achieved a lot, becoming a recognised name by playing Chand Kawar in "Maharana Pratap", Ayadhya in "Internet Wala Love" and Zara/Babli in "Ish Subhan Allah", among other beloved characters.
What adds to the shock is that just 10 hours ago, she posted a motivational quote on Instagram. "Those who are driven by passion don't stop," she wrote.
Irrespective of age, mental health affects everyone, as UNICEF recently reported that sometimes serious mental health conditions are dismissed by citing hormonal issues.
According to UNICEF, 14% of the world's adolescents experience mental-health problems. Globally, among those aged 10–15, suicide is the fifth most prevalent cause of death, and for adolescents aged 15–19 it is the fourth most common cause. Moreover, a staggering half of mental health conditions start by the age of 14.
The gap between diagnosis of mental health in young adults and the help that reaches them is alarming, and the lack of awareness and stigma against taking help is partially responsible as well – one would often refrain from seeking help in fear of getting mocked.
All this while rates of depression and suicidal behaviour increases among young adults, as suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds according to a report by World Health Organisation.
The report adds that depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
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