A well-known Hollywood actor is Al Pacino. The actor has been in the industry for over 50 years and has appeared in legendary movies including The Godfather Parts 1–3. For the celebrity, who has battled mental illness for many years, fame hasn’t always been simple.

Pacino’s breakthrough performance in The Godfather earned him nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. After the movie was released and he was thrust into the limelight, Pacino’s mental state started to deteriorate.

Actor and director Lee Strasberg gave the struggling young actor advice to “adjust to his new existence” at the time.

Pacino, though, was aware that it is not that easy.

“I went through some crap,” Pacino admitted on the Awards Chatter podcast of The Hollywood Reporter. “I went to counseling five days a week for 25 years.”

Michael Corleone, the character he plays in Godfather series, suffers from depression, according to the actor.

The same thing happened in The Humbling, where he played an aging actor who had an affair with a younger woman.

“As the character matures, the sentiments he has for his work become less available to him,” he added. “As a result, he attempts to compensate and becomes a little off and confused, and slips into a type of despair that reflects in his work.” He was lured to the role first because of the character’s “tragic collapse,” he explained.

Despite admitting to experiencing problems in the past, the actor has stated that he considers himself “lucky” and “spared” from the difficulties that some of his fellow artists have and continue to face.

“I’m not sure if I’m depressed,” he admitted during the Venice Film Festival.

“People suffer from depression, which is exceedingly depressing and can last a long period.”

“I’m aware of that because I’ve had comparable symptoms before, though not to the same extent.” “I consider myself fortunate and blessed to have escaped.”

Concerns about Robin Williams’ mental health arose in the wake of the actor’s tragic demise in 2014.

In the 1980s, Pacino made an effort to lighten his burden by acting in very few movies. He said of his sabbatical from the camera, “It was beneficial for me.

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects 5% of people worldwide. This translates to around 280 million people worldwide.

The disorder is one of the leading causes of disability in the world, and it can lead to suicide.

Despite being one of the most common mental illnesses, the vast majority of those who suffer from it go untreated.

Everyone will experience sadness at some point in their lives, according to the NHS, but it becomes a problem when the sickness takes control of your life and hinders you from performing routine chores.

Depression can be brought on by a number of things, including stress and negative life experiences. Depression and physical health have also been linked. Depression can be caused by cardiovascular disease, for example.

Depressive symptoms may include the following, according to the NHS:

prolonged melancholy or depression

Being helpless and hopeful

A lack of interest or passion for activities

Having difficulty making decisions

Not having any fun in life

Feeling concerned or anxious about injuring or harming oneself.

Other physical indicators include:

Changes in weight or hunger, as well as a slower rate of movement or speech than usual (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)

Constipation

Pains and aches that go unnoticed

Insufficient energy

Drive of poor quality (loss of libido)

Changes in the menstrual cycle

Sleep disturbances might manifest as difficulty falling asleep or waking up at an unusually early hour.

The condition can also have a negative social influence, causing a person to avoid friends and ignore interests and hobbies.

Following a diagnosis, doctors will describe the severity of the ailment. Depression can range from mild to severe. The most severe form of depression, in which daily life is practically impossible to navigate.

If you are concerned about your own or another person’s mental health, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Call The Samaritans on 116 123 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you are suffering suicidal thoughts.