Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan has sparked controversy following a remark made at a rural employment event, where he suggested that gardening and physical labor could cure depression.
The statement, perceived as dismissive of mental health struggles, has drawn sharp criticism from mental health advocates.
While addressing the audience, Kalyan shared his advice for family members experiencing depression, stating, “When the children in my family tell me they’re depressed, I ask them to stop saying that. First, stop eating food. Go out and work, farm in the fields. It’ll make you hungry; that’s when you won’t feel depressed.”
He further elaborated that a “working brain and a struggling stomach” leave no room for depressive thoughts.
Mental health professionals and activists argue that Pawan Kalyan’s suggestion oversimplifies depression, a complex clinical disorder that often requires professional intervention, including therapy and medication.
Such statements from influential figures like Pawan Kalyan can perpetuate stigma and discourage people from seeking proper treatment, the doctors said.
Many experts termed his comments as “irresponsible” and “out of touch.”
Kalyan’s remarks are particularly striking given his own public disclosures about battling depression. In a 2023 interview on Unstoppable with NBK, he revealed that at age 17, he contemplated suicide due to academic pressures and isolation caused by asthma-related hospitalizations. He credited his siblings, including actor Chiranjeevi, for intervening and helping him find solace in reading, martial arts, and Carnatic music.