Actress Aina Asif was a guest on Something Haute where she spoke up about the controversy surrounding her statement about urging people to seek therapy for depression rather than praying. In April, the ‘Parwarish’ actress was a guest on Nida Yasir’s morning show where she spoke about how therapists in Pakistan would suggest religious practices as a cure for mental illnesses, and urged mental health counsellors to encourage people to seek medical help instead.
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Speaking on Something Haute, Aina Asif said she regrets her choice of words and could have phrased her statement better after seeing the backlash. The ‘Judwa’ actress said she believes topics like therapy are still considered to be a taboo topic in Pakistan, and it takes immense courage for someone to seek out mental health treatment.
“To ask for help is a very courageous thing. It takes a lot for a person so say that I am not okay and I need help. And people will still view you as crazy… To have that courage and to be strong…and then to go to someone and they tell you that the solution is your faith is weak. It makes you feel incredibly insecure like does God also hate me?”
Aina Asif stressed that it was not their business to lecture people about their religious faith, because Islam has stated that Allah loves their creations and does not abandon them in times of need.
“Who wants to not get up in the morning? Who wants to waste their life away? It’s something that is not in one’s control. And when you go to a therapist and they say that to you, it’s so humiliating to hear..That’s what I meant to say is that if you’ve ever heard that, it’s not your fault. Allah still love you and your religious matter is none of their business…It’s between you and Allah.”
