Deepika Padukone (30) is all set to unveil an awareness campaign to fight against depression on 23 March 2016. She openly admitted about suffering from the condition last year.

The Bollywood actress talked about her struggle with depression, lack of awareness besides social stigma attached to it. She would unveil the campaign named ‘You Are Not Alone’, which is planned to go ahead for one year. Through the campaign the actress is looking forward to take her fight forward against depression.

Padukone said, "Last year, I spoke about my own fight with depression as I felt I could not just sit by and watch as people who were going through what I had gone through and we decided to launch 'You Are Not Alone' with an idea to raise awareness and to enable students and teachers to identify signs of anxiety and depression."

The campaign would begin with own school named Sophia's High School located in Bengaluru. According to the plan, the awareness campaign would cover more than 200 schools and would raise awareness and even sensitize teachers and students. The campaign would allow them to figure out the symptoms and signs of depression and anxiety.  

"We believe that schools can be the first line of defence for emotional and mental health disorders in our youth. We could also help connect the schools to counseling organisations and independent counselors if they need such help," Padukone said.

Beginning with few schools in March, the program include numerous programs in line for June to begin the new academic session.

The actress who took counseling and medication to combat depression, said, “Our aim is to bring the issue of mental health from the shadows and include this discussion in drawing room conversations from being spoken of in hushed tones.”

- Sumana