Shama Sikander opens up about suicide attempt after quitting the TV industry; 'I was going through depression'

MUMBAI: Shama Sikander has been absent from television for a while and has disclosed that she attempted suicide once after leaving the industry. Shama talked candidly about her depression in a recent interview, stating that her parents helped her get through that difficult time.

The actress admitted that her mental health suffered as a result of feeling "burnt out" while working on television.

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“That’s the reason why I decided to leave. I had worked without a break for quite a long time and it started to take a toll on my mental health. I started to feel uneasy and I decided to stay indoors. I stopped going out and socializing. I was going through depression and even tried to commit suicide but thankfully my parents saved me at the nick of the time,” she told the popular news portal.

“Depression isn’t caused because of one reason. It is caused after an amalgamation of various thoughts and reasons. During that time, in the early 2000s, there wasn’t really much awareness about the same. My parents weren’t able to gauge the reason for me wanting to be home and not being productive at all,” the actress added.

Shama mentioned that her parents were “extremely supportive” but it was the showbiz world that pushed her into darkness. “I feel the industry has a lot of unrealistic expectations from people. It requires you to be what they perceive of you and slowly and steadily you lose yourself completely in the darkness. When I felt the burnout, I gave up the stardom and industry and took my own time for healing,” she said.

The actress went on to call her a "people pleaser" and revealed that her mental health had suffered because of the pressure to be "perfect." Shama clarified that she is fine today and tries to focus on the good things around her.

“I credit that phase of my life for helping me become the person that I am today. I have my boundaries set, I don’t entertain people beyond a limit, and I know the value of my time and my emotions,” she said.

Regarding her career, Shama Sikander has contributed to several television shows such as Maaya: Slave of Her Desires, Ye Meri Life Hai, and Baal Veer.

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Credit- News 18