Top News

Mental health awareness takes a powerful step forward when public figures speak candidly about their struggles. Several Indian celebrities have courageously spoken about their own or their family members' mental health struggles, helping to destigmatise these conversations in India. Whether it is Randeep Hooda or Deepika Padukone speaking about depression-related battles, or Shraddha Kapoor and Anushka Sharma talking about how anxiety can plague the mind, the list is long.

These open talks by Indian celebrities are immensely important not because celebrities are perfect role models, but because their visibility helps break long-standing stigma around mental health in Indian society. Their openness chips away at stigma and inspires others to speak out.

In the latest such instance, it is Jenna Ortega, the breakout Netflix star of Wednesday, who joins the band of these braves who helped destigmatise mental health matters. In a recent interview on Heart Evening Show, Jenna opened up about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a move that could help many readers recognise their own experiences. Here's what she said, and what mental health experts want us to know.

When asked about her evening routine, Ortega surprised the host and viewers by saying, “I have pretty intense OCD,” adding, “Repetitive thoughts and counting everything multiple times and having to do the same action over and over.” Her words carried the weight of lived experience — routine not as ritual, but as necessity.

She went on, "Sometimes my nights consist of just being really exhausted and going up and down the stairs six times because that's what I think I need to do to make sure no one breaks into my home." The comment distilled how compulsions, born from magical thinking, can override rest even when every rational indicator says there's no danger.

In this insightful conversation, leading psychiatrist Dr Muktesh Daund, Director & Consultant Psychiatrist at NIMS Hospital, Nashik, sheds light on the complex issue of OCD: its diagnosis and treatment. ABP Live also spoke to Shruti Padhye, Senior Psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust. Here are excerpts from what they shared:

[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]