By Prithvi Iyer and Nethra Palepu
The death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has taken the country by storm. Since his demise two months ago, numerous theories regarding its “real” cause have received incessant media coverage, from nepotism in Bollywood to allegations of foul play. It is, of course, plausible that some of these theories might be true. The case is still under investigation and the details are murky—but it is necessary to explore some of the narratives surrounding the actor’s demise that highlight the misinformed and harmful ways in which mental health is viewed in India. This needs to be critically analysed in order to improve our understanding of mental health and suicidality in a way that is mindful, informed and science based. However, in the case of a celebrities’ demise, the ability to express objectivity in our understanding of mental illness and suicidality is greatly compromised.
Celebrity suicides and its psychological impact on the masses
The…
