In the wake of the online attack against Rhea Chakraborty regarding Sushant Singh Rajput case, Sushant Singh Rajput’s therapist has broken her silence, saying it was her duty to ‘go public’ with information that Sushant ‘suffered from Bipolar disorder’.
The therapist Susan Walker spoke to journalist Barkha Dutt about Sushant’s severe condition and how Rhea was his ‘strongest support’.
Susan stated that she had met Sushant and Rhea in November and December 2019 and communicated with Rhea in June 2020.
“In light of the misinformation and conspiracy theories currently raging on social media about Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty, I have decided it is my duty to make a statement. In my capacity as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, I met Sushant and Rhea on several occasions in November and December 2019 and communicated again with Rhea in June of this year.”
Susan said Sushant was suffering from Bipolar disorder and talked about how the stigma around mental illness makes it difficult to seek help.
“Sushant was suffering from bipolar disorder, a severe mental illness that can be crippling for an individual during an episode. The symptoms of which can include severe anxiety, major depression and sometimes disordered thinking and paranoia. The continuing, appalling stigma around mental illness makes it very difficult for patients and their families to reach out. This has to stop. Mental illness is no different than cancer or diabetes.”
The therapist further commented how the shame of such illness can drive someone to suicide.
“People with mental illnesses and their families need to feel safe from discrimination so that they can get their treatment and support and acceptance they need. Mental illness can be treated, it is often the shame of having such an illness that can drive people to suicide. Along with the absolute torment of being in the grip of an illness that affects the ways our minds and emotions work.”
Talking about how she’d met Rhea-Sushant as a couple, Sushant’s suffering and how Rhea was his strongest support, who took care of all his appointments, Susan said –
“Sushant was suffering terribly during his bouts of depression and hypomania. Rhea was his strongest support. From the first time I met them as a couple, I was impressed by the degree of concern, love and support she showed. It was very evident how close they were. Rhea took care of his appointments and gave him enough courage to attend, despite his being so fearful that someone would find out.”
Susan was deeply shocked at the treatment Rhea was getting on social media as she believed her to be a ‘deeply caring and sensitive’ person.
She further elaborated on how Rhea took care of Sushant and said- “When he was severely ill, he depended on her as somewhat of a mother figure and she completely filled that role with love, encouragement and patience. It was an incredibly hard time for her as seeing someone suffer through the cruelty of mental illnesses of family members. They need to keep it a secret and bear things in silence, an added trauma. The treatment that Rhea has received on social media is deeply shocking to me as I have only ever experienced her as deeply caring and sensitive person.”
She concluded by saying that Sushant’s death needs to be a lesson in ending mental health stigma. “Sushant’s sad and untimely death needs to be yet another lesson for us all–in ending of shame and stigma around mental illness.”
Rhea Chakraborty and family have been accused with abetment to suicide, cheating and conspiracy by SSR’s father, K.K Singh in his FIR.
Rhea also has a money laundering case filed against her by the Enforcement Directorate.