Russian journalist Sasha Sulim has revealed that she takes antidepressants to cope with anxiety and severe apathy brought on by the emotional demands of her work. She disclosed details about her treatment during an interview with video blogger Madonna Mur on YouTube.
Sulim said that relying on antidepressants indicated how challenging her professional duties were to endure. She explained that taking the medication made it easier to conduct interviews with guests who share difficult personal experiences and complex life stories.
The interviewer stated that she decided to consult a psychiatrist after struggling with persistent anxiety and deep apathy. She confessed that at times her symptoms became so severe that simple daily routines were overwhelming, leaving her unable to get out of bed or take a shower.
Sulim is a widely recognized Russian journalist and video creator best known for her longform interviews, feature reporting, and investigative work. Her sit-down conversation with Madonna Mur, a prominent online interviewer who hosts discussions with public figures, was published on the video sharing platform YouTube, where independent Russian interview formats have attracted large audiences in recent years.
Mental health in broadcasting
Antidepressants are prescription psychiatric medications used to treat major depressive disorders, generalized anxiety, and severe apathy by regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. Psychiatrists routinely prescribe these pharmaceutical therapies alongside clinical supervision to help patients maintain basic cognitive and physical function during periods of severe stress or clinical depression.
Sulim is not the first Russian media personality to publicly discuss struggles with mental health and psychiatric treatment. Television presenter and singer Maria Gladkikh previously disclosed that she was diagnosed with moderate clinical depression and prescribed strong antidepressants.
Gladkikh explained that she had spent a long time attempting to cope with her mental health issues on her own without seeking professional help before eventually visiting a doctor. Public disclosures by high-profile media figures reflect broader ongoing discussions around occupational stress, psychiatric care, and mental health awareness within the journalism and entertainment sectors.
