Women We Love: Ruby Rose

Hats off to DJ and television presenter Ruby Rose for having the strength to speak out about her struggle with depression and for reaching out to fellow sufferers.

Rose, who has cancelled her upcoming national tour dates due to “losing my battle with depression”, took to Facebook recently to assure her followers that she is “going to be OK”, adding that “I want everyone else who is feeling this way to know they, too, will be all right”.

Australian Celebrities Speak Out About Depression

The 27-year-old entertainer explains that she was first medicated for post-traumatic stress disorder at 14 “after finding a dead body”.

Rose also chronicled her harrowing experiences with school bullies in a marie claire feature “A Letter To My Bully” in our December 2012 issue.

The talented DJ who works closely with Headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, is a strong believer in lifting the stigma of mental illness.

“I believe it’s the secrets that keep us sick, and that reaching out is so important when you feel alone,” she explained in her Facebook post.

She shared that her tool for tackling her current bout of depression was to “put a hat and sunglasses on (while in the house) pick up the phone and call a friend. It worked for me. I can’t say why”.

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And she encourages fellow sufferers to do the same: “You are not alone, pick up the phone, grab an animal, grab someone else’s animal, just make sure you address it and give yourself the time and love you need ... I am doing it because I know I deserve to be happy just like everyone else does.”

Anyone experiencing personal problems can call Lifeline on 131 114.