When actor Kabir Bedi opened up recently about his final days with Parveen Babi, it wasn’t gossip. It was a warning about how untreated mental illness can take down even the brightest minds. As Kabir Bedi recalled in his interview with Siddharth Kannan, he shared how he urged Parveen Babi, one of India’s most iconic stars, to seek psychiatric help when she began experiencing hallucinations and paranoia. “Paranoid minds are scared of everything,” he said, recalling how she shut him out after he pushed for treatment.Parveen’s slow withdrawal from public life and her untimely death in 2005 were tragic. But they weren’t random. They were symptoms of something bigger — the mental health struggles she never got to name, never got to treat. Her story is not just about fame and fall, it’s about stigma, fear, and a medical condition left to spiral.So let’s step back and know what “mental illness” actually means, how it shows up, and how it can be treated.
What is mental health and why does it matter
Mental health isn’t just about being happy or sad. It’s how we think, feel, and act. It affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a state of well-being where a person can cope with life, realise their abilities, work productively, and contribute to their community.When that balance is off, and symptoms persist or get worse, it may be a sign of a mental health condition. For someone like Parveen, who reportedly experienced hallucinations, delusions, and social isolation, the signs were clear. But stigma — especially in public life — can make those symptoms easier to hide than treat.
Common types of mental health disorders
There’s no single shape or size when it comes to mental illness. Here are some of the main types:
- Mood Disorders: These include depression and bipolar disorder. People may feel persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emotional highs and lows that disrupt their lives.
- Anxiety Disorders: The most common mental illnesses. Symptoms include constant worry, panic attacks, phobias, or obsessive behaviours that interfere with daily life.
- Schizophrenia: Conditions like schizophrenia involve hallucinations, paranoia, and distorted thinking. Many people with psychosis believe things that aren’t real or hear voices that others can’t.
- Trauma-Related Disorders: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after severe trauma. It includes flashbacks, avoidance, and hypervigilance.
- Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: Unwanted, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions), such as checking, counting, or hand-washing.
Mental illness doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s silent, showing up as fatigue, avoidance, or even just numbness.
Risk factors that can lead to mental health issues
Mental illness doesn’t strike randomly. Certain factors raise the risk:
- Childhood trauma (neglect, abuse, early loss)
- Chronic stress (financial trouble, relationship breakdowns)
- Genetics (family history of mental illness)
- Substance abuse
- Isolation and loneliness
- Medical conditions (like chronic pain, hormonal imbalance)
Parveen, despite her fame, experienced loneliness and intense media scrutiny. She also lived abroad for long periods, sometimes disconnected from her community. That isolation may have worsened her condition.
Warning signs of mental health problems
According to Medical News Today, here’s what to watch for:
- Withdrawal from friends, work, or social events
- Dramatic changes in mood or behaviour
- Trouble sleeping or eating
- Trouble focusing or thinking clearly
- Hearing voices or believing things that aren’t real
- Intense fear or sadness that won’t go away
- Talking about hopelessness or suicide
None of these should be brushed off. If something feels off for more than two weeks, it’s worth checking.
How mental health conditions are diagnosed
There’s no blood test for depression, as per Medical News Today. No X-ray for anxiety. Mental health diagnosis is done by specialists — psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists — using:
- Medical exams to rule out physical causes
- Lab tests, sometimes to check for hormonal imbalances
- Psychiatric evaluations, including interviews and standard questionnaires
- Diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
It’s a careful process. And it works if someone is willing to go.
Mental health disorders treatments that help
According to Medical News Today, many options exist and they work.Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people reframe negative thinking
- Trauma-informed therapy is used for PTSD
- Family therapy helps rebuild support systems
Medications
- Antidepressants (like SSRIs) for depression or anxiety
- Antipsychotics for hallucinations or delusions
- Mood stabilisers for bipolar disorder
Lifestyle and support
- Daily movement and exercise
- Reducing alcohol and drug use
- Good sleep routines
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Peer support or support groups
For severe cases, advanced treatments like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are used, especially when nothing else works.
5 common myths about mental health
Related FAQs
- What are auditory hallucinations?
Hearing voices or sounds that aren’t real. It’s common in mental health disorders like schizophrenia.
- How can families help someone in denial?
Gently. Don’t label or confront aggressively. Offer to go with them to a doctor. Keep showing up.
- Is recovery from mental illness possible?
Yes. With the right treatment, many live full, productive lives.
