Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has been flooded with love and support after her emotional and revealing conversation with Chude Jideonwo.
During an appearance on Chude Jideonwo’s LiveWithChude talk show, Funke Akindele candidly discussed her experiences with depression and anxiety, shedding light on the often-hidden struggles of mental health.
READ ALSO: Queens of the Screen: 10 Female stars who once ruled Nollywood
The actress recounted the traumatic period following the death of her protege, Jumoke Aderounmu, when she faced intense bullying and insults on social media. Funke Akindele revealed that the online trolls’ harsh comments exacerbated her mental health struggles, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. She described how the loss of her protégé, combined with the cruel words of online bullies, took a significant toll on her mental well-being.
Funke Akindele also spoke about other challenges that affected her mental health, including the loss of her mother, backlash over her involvement in politics, and public mockery of her personal life, particularly her failed marriage.
Despite her public image of strength, the actress admitted to struggling with mental health issues and seeking professional help. “I am a strong woman (but) it got to a stage when I almost lost it mentally, when people called me out for something I didn’t do, when an actress on ‘Jenifa’ passed on and people said I didn’t help her… and I was already depressed myself. So I took my phone, entered the room and locked the door so that Juliana and co couldn’t open the door.”
She revealed that therapy played a crucial role in her journey towards healing and recovery. In her words: “I told myself ‘You need to speak to someone about this.’ And I… reached out to a therapist.”
The video:
View this post on Instagram
The actress expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences, and her words have left a lasting impact on her audience. “Flashback to livewithchude
I had such a good time discussing with Chude! Sharing my experiences and wisdom was a blessing, and I’m humbled to think it inspired others. Sitting with Chude reminded me that our stories are meant to inspire and spark a change! Thank you for having me, Chude! LiveWithChude FunkeAkindele”, she wrote.
