Malala Yousafzai says she has ‘always asked for help’ with her mental health

'That's the key that I would say to everybody,' says activist

(Getty Images)

Malala Yousafzai has opened up about how she deals with mental health issues, revealing she has “always asked for help”.

Speaking to Teen Vogue, the Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize laureate explained she had struggled with her mental health in the past, though she didn’t specify what the issue was.

Instead, Yousafzai chose to share her tips for dealing with the problems she has experienced, urging people to seek advice or treatment.

“That’s the key that I would say to everybody,” the 22-year-old said. “Even if you feel ‘I don’t think the issue is too big. I don’t think I’m in a depression or anxiety yet’ or ‘I don’t think it’s [bad enough to] still go out and ask for help.’ I always tell things to my parents.

“I always say things to somebody that I know closely, some of my friends or somebody in school. Just to make sure, right, I would have nothing - there’s nothing to worry about, but still go out and share it.”

Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize aged 17 for her fearless campaigning on education, went on to say how many “depressing” things are happening in the world right now, though she did not elaborate on any problem in particular.

“It’s really sad what’s happening,” she said. “And I think for us, what we need to do is remain positive because our sadness can’t change the world.

“Our sadness can’t really help us resolve those issues.”

Yousafazai’s comments come after she spoke about the benefits of supporting women who may not have access to education while at a charity event in Edinburgh.

“Educated girls have the power to transform our world,” she said at the event, which was held by homelessness charity Social Bite.

“But without a home or access to education, millions of refugee and displaced girls are unable to fulfil their potential.”