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Lilly Singh is fighting the stigma surrounding mental health for South Asian women

lilly singh break from youtube
Lilly Singh is taking a break from Youtube.
Image Source: Instagram/iisuperwomanii

Youtube star Lilly Singh has received a wave of support over the past few days after she announced she’d be taking a break from her online career to focus on her mental health.

The 30-year-old Canadian-Punjabi Youtube sensation, who has been creating viral videos for the past eight years, told fans  she was “mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted”.

“You know, the thing about YouTube is that in all of its glory, it kind of is a machine, and it makes creators believe that we have to pump out content consistently even at the cost of our life and our mental health and our happiness, because if you don’t, then you’ll become irrelevant,” she continued.

“But I’ve always said that happiness is the most important thing that you will ever fight for. Relevance is not.”

She later shared an Instagram post, in which she admitted she’d  “sit alone in numbness feeling sad and unmotivated” after a long day’s work.

“I would continuously pity myself for being lonely but take no action towards fostering relationships. Small, minor hiccups in my day would completely take control of my mindset and get the best of me,” she explained.

“Being overwhelmed replaced being grateful. I complained more, got impatient quicker and didn’t allow space to think about myself, my day, my feelings or what I need. I experienced anxiety in situations I would previously enjoy. Creation became a burden rather than a pleasure. This is why I’m taking a break.”

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Earlier this week I announced a break from YouTube due to wanting to work on my mental health and happiness. I honestly wasn’t expecting the reaction I received. Firstly, I want to say a very deep, heartfelt thank you to all my friends, family, fans and industry members who have reached out with genuine messages of support. Your love and energy has meant so much to me. Reaching out to people in need is absolutely the correct step. Thank you for taking it. Secondly, admittedly, it’s a little strange for me to see my announcement all over the media. Where I live in California, people have just lost their homes in the wildfire and so I don’t consider my break newsworthy in the greater scheme of things. Having said that, I appreciate all of the outlets who have stayed true to my messaging and put mental health in a positive light. My decision was proactive in nature. For the last few months I’ve noticed changes in myself that I don’t enjoy. After long days of working a job I love, I’d sit alone in numbness feeling sad and unmotivated. I would continuously pity myself for being lonely but take no action towards fostering relationships. Small, minor hiccups in my day would completely take control of my mindset and get the best of me. Being overwhelmed replaced being grateful. I complained more, got impatient quicker and didn’t allow space to think about myself, my day, my feelings or what I need. I experienced anxiety in situations I would previously enjoy. Creation became a burden rather than a pleasure. This is why I’m taking a break. I recognize this behaviour and I am taking proactive steps to manage it before things worsen. I’m typing this with a smile on my face because I’m proud of my decision and grateful for your support. To everyone who is concerned, thank you, but also don’t be. This is not the fall of Lilly, rather it is the beginning of her rise. It’s time to take my mind to the gym so it can shine bright once again… ❤️

A post shared by Lilly Singh (@lilly) on

Fans across the world, female and male, have since praised the Youtube star for being open about her mental health struggles.

And not only has she done this, but she’s spoken about an issue that has been attached to a devastating, damaging stigma within the South Asian community.

Lilly speaking about her personal struggles is helping combat the shame thrust upon other Indian girls battling similar issues, all the while giving them the strength to now do the same.

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