The world, it seems, is in a middle of suicide contagion. Days before celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain killed himself, designer Kate Spade was found dead in her Manhattan apartment on June 5, 2018, dead of an apparent suicide. Even earlier in April 2018, the circumstances that surrounded Swedish musician DJ Avicii’s death also pointed towards a possible suicide.

The last couple of years have seen an alarming number of suicides among those in the public eye: Mark Salling, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, Robin Williams, Lil Peep and Jonghyun. Closer home, India has seen its fair share of celeb suicides like that of Divya Bharti, Silk Smitha, Guru Dutt and Pratyusha Banerjee. More recently, the deaths of former ATS chief Himanshu Roy and spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj have shown that depression can even affect those outside the glamour industry.

What makes these celebs particularly more vulnerable to suicides and mental health problems?  Dr. Era Dutta Consultant Neuropsychiatrist and Therapist at Mind Wellness & Fortis Healthcare says, "Often people ask me whether celebs are more susceptible because they are creative or whether intelligent people are more depressed because of their superior intellect. Depression affects everyone from every walk of life.”

But it can’t be denied that being in the public eye can be extremely stressful. So some factors that come with fame aggravate mental health problems, leaving them more susceptible to depression, anxiety and suicide.

The Permanent Spotlight

Being a celebrity means you are always in the spotlight. Everything you say or do is relayed to the public, whether good or bad. With the advent of digital journalism and social media, and with cameras perpetually pointed at their faces, celebs can’t afford the luxury of stepping out in their bedclothes or enjoying a private moment with their loved one. “Like their private moments, their failures too are highlighted or magnified,” says Dr. Dutta. We sniggered at Alia Bhatt for goofing up with a GK question on Koffee with Karan, which by no means is hallowed ground for intellectuals in the first place. In her defence, how many millennials could have claimed to answer that question correctly? Abhishek Bachchan is reminded about his waning career every day on Twitter. By expecting them to live under continuous media glare, appear poised at all times, be a role model to millions, not once take a misstep and be thick-skinned to criticism, we forget that they are mere human beings like the rest of us.

The Stress to Succeed

Showbiz is based on fleeting things like beauty and youth. But that alone cannot guarantee long-term success, because if being good-looking and talented were enough, millions would have been movie stars, top chefs and superstar athletes. But it’s hard staying being at the top of the pecking order at all times, especially because people are in a hurry to write you off. The struggle to stay relevant makes celebrities do things that may not be in line with their personal beliefs. The pressure to succeed in the rat race exacerbates their mental health.

Substance Abuse

Succumbing to vices such as drugs and alcohol is easy in the high-stress lives led by the celebs. Access to drugs is also easy in their circles. Many famous people develop the habit in a bid to escape the stress and heartbreaks associated with the life. Celebrities also abuse stimulant drugs such as cocaine to make up for the demands of their busy schedules, . “Drug abuse has a direct impact on the person’s mental state, worsening depression and mental illnesses,” says Dr. Dutta. Drug abuse and depression form a vicious cycle where the substance fuels depression and depressed individuals reach out for drugs and alcohol for solace. People who abuse alcohol and drugs are also six times more likely to attempt suicide.

Reputation

The stigma surrounding depression makes it difficult for celebs to seek treatment for their mental health. “In my own practice, I have had requests from my high profile clients that I empty the clinic before they come for an appointment. They are terrified of the public knowing about their struggles. Today we have celebs like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma opening up about their mental health problems. But times were different before,” says Dr. Dutta. Most celebrities are stalwarts in their respective fields are used to adulation. As a result, they have an inflated sense of ego. It takes a lot for them to even admit to themselves that they have a problem.

Everyone remembers Britney Spears’ public meltdown of 2006 when she infamously tonsured her head, Sanjay Dutt’s long-drawn battle with drugs and alcohol, Charlie Sheen’s misdemeanours. Sadly, there is very little empathy for them from public quarters. Instead of seeing their struggles as pleas for help, we have a tendency to downplay their sufferings and think of them as spoilt brats. After all, they have everything going for them. But the truth is that they too have their own demons to fight. Without the luxury of a moment’s privacy, they live their lives for all to see, a far cry from the charmed lives we believe that they lead.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2018 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).