Actor and television anchor Mandira Bedi has always been vocal about her struggles with postpartum depression after childbirth. She became a mom of baby boy, Vir in 2011 after 12 years of marriage with late husband Raj Kaushal.
“As a new mum I faced one issue – postpartum depression is for real. I had it for 6 weeks. I did not fall in love with my baby the moment I saw him. It took me a while to adjust to this new change as I had a baby after 12 years of marriage. I even thought, I didn’t sign up for this. My independence has gone. I was depressed and I have no qualms admitting it.” she revealed in an interview.
Photo credit: Facebook/Mandira Bedi
Mandira has emphasized the importance of awareness, urging mothers not to feel ashamed. “Postpartum depression is normal. It’s hormonal imbalance. Families must provide all the support they can,” she said.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), postpartum depression (PPD) is “an episode of non-psychotic depression that occurs within one year of childbirth.”
The WHO also states that one in every five mothers in India experiences PPD, yet 90% remain undiagnosed due to stigma and lack of awareness.
While the burden of parenthood is shared by both parents equally, mothers still take on the bigger load. New mothers frequently neglect their own mental health during caring for the infant, feeding them, recovering, and working. Sadly, in the lack of awareness, many mothers still go through this in silence, without receiving the support or care they require at this sensitive time.
Celebrities, who experienced postpartum depression
Many celebrities have shared their PPD journeys to normalize conversations around it. Apart from Mandira Bedi, stars like Soha Ali Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Sameera Reddy, Esha Deol, Deepika Singh, and Surveen Chawla have opened up about their struggles, used social media platforms to raise awareness.
Motherhood is a life-changing experience, and it’s crucial to recognize that seeking help for postpartum depression is a sign of strength, not weakness.
