Deepika Padukone Receives Crystal Award At Davos, Says Depression Like Any Other Illness Is Treatable

Deepika Padukone was honoured with the Crystal Award at World Economic Forum 2020, Switzerland for her extraordinary contribution towards the cause of mental health. The founder of Live Love Laugh Foundation is the only Indian actress to feature in World Economic Forum, Davos 2020 winners list. Her foundation aims to reduce the stigma, spread awareness and change the way we look at Mental Health.

The actress delivered an amazing speech while receiving her award. She talked about her ‘love-and-hate’ relationship with mental illness. “We need to prioritize the need of every individual including those affected by mental illness. My love hate relationship with mental illness has taught me so much, to be patient for one that you are not alone but most importantly there is hope.”

"One trillion dollars is the estimated impact of depression and mental illness on the world economy. In the time it has taken me to accept this award, the world has lost one more person to suicide," she said.

"Depression is a common yet serious illness. It is important to understand that anxiety and depression is like any other illness and treatable. It was experience with this illness that encouraged me to set up Live Love Laugh," she said while talking about the foundation she has set up for this cause.

She concluded her speech by quoting Martin Luther King as  “Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.”

As #wef20 gets underway, @deepikapadukone stresses the importance of addressing mental health issues when building a more sustainable and inclusive world.@TLLLFoundation

Find out more: https://t.co/yja3lFKDLN #healthyfutures pic.twitter.com/7p0U3AoDpR

— World Economic Forum (@wef) January 20, 2020

For the occasion, the actress decided to wear a long blue ensemble with classic hairdo and nude makeup, diamond earrings.

Apart from Deepika, artist

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GRATITUDE!ðŸ™ÂðŸÂ½ #crystalaward2020 #wef2020 @tlllfoundation

A post shared by Malti (@deepikapadukone) on Jan 20, 2020 at 1:57pm PST

Theaster Gates and choreographer Jin Xing have also been felicitated with the Annual Crystal Award.

On the work front, the actress was last seen in 'Chhapaak', a film based on the life of the acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.  She will next feature in Kabir Khan's sports drama '83'. The actress will be essaying the role of former cricketer Kapil Dev's wife Romi Dev while Ranveer Singh will be seen as Kapil.