Question 2: You are not only a trained doctor but a Psychiatrist too. Recently on you twitter handle you opened up about your struggle with Clinical Depression, there by becoming the first psychiatrist in the country to open about his Mental Illness. Can you tell for the benefit of the readers as to what motivated you to own-up, open-up and talk about your Mental Illness and to become a torch-bearer of the movement

Question 3: Tell us, when did the diagnosis happened and what ever the symptoms. Tell us  when and how it all began. And if you can educate us, before the diagnosis did you have any symptoms particularly going back to adolescence or late childhood

Question 4: Unlike Bipolar and Schizophrenia where biological underpinnings and genetic footprints are strong, the Clinical Depression which you suffer from need not run in family. Nonetheless, It is told both nature and nurture plays a role in onset of mental illness including its most common expression-the Clinical Depression. Do you think there was some genetic lability in your case. Similarly can you in retrospect the environmental triggers from the past (including any specific trigger from the childhood or early adolescence).

Question 5:If the answer to above question is yes, Can you recall any early life stressor that might have contributed to your adult life onset of Depression (to be precise my childhood was stressed and the childhood sexual attacks gave me early depression, suicidal ideation, chronic anxiety and panic attack and PTSD ( this is an optional question in any case)

Question 6 Depression comes with deep-seated distress and inexplicable sadness where the person finds himself/herself mired in hopelessness, helplessness and nothingness that leads to suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and even completed suicide. Has suicidal ideation ever bogged you down. If yes, how have you managed it?

Question 7:Stigma around Mental Illness is deeply ingrained in the  Indian Society. Tell about your experience of any stigma that you have encountered in society, family, friends or neighborhood. Also as some one whose job is to treat mentally ill and counsel care giver as well as in your new role  an opinion maker and crusador, tell as to what actions are needed to combat stigma on war footing in the country

Question 8: The most classic case of a Mental Health Professional going public about his/Her Mental Illness was Key Redfield Jamison and her fight with Bipolar Disorder. Can you tell me, does a mental health professional going public about his own mental illness is likely to face problems that an ordinary person or a celebrity talking you it will not face

Question 9 If a mentally ill person has to become functional and lead a normal life, there has to be some one standing behind him with rock like support. That person can be family, friend or any one else. Who has been that one person / persons in your life

Question 10: One thing is for certain that despite your Depression you have fought against odds and have become a successful psychiatrist What role psychiatric medicines have played in your well being. And other than medicines what other things (therapy, meditation, yoga, walking, exercise) have helped you.

Question 11 There is a small (and growing ) group of Indian youngsters who think medication is not the necessary part of armamentarium of a sufferer to deal with severe mental illnesses. What suggestion do you have to give them both as a sufferer of Mental Illness and as a Psychiatrist?

Question 12 If I recap, in personal and professional life, you have made it a point to be open about your depression and treatment and that you have been very lucky to have extremely supportive family, friends and colleagues. From your experience, what message you would like to give to society in general and family, friends and employers in particular as to how to make life of a mentally ill more fulfilling.

Answer: