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Jared Padalecki opens up on his struggle with depression. He is now leading a campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues. "I, for a long time, have been passionate about people dealing with mental illness and struggling with depression, or addiction, or having suicidal thoughts and, strangely enough, it's almost like the life I live, as well," he tells Variety.

"And I, in the past, have had my own struggles of not [being] so happy with where I am in life, which is strange and I think it goes to show," the actor adds, before recalling his depression during "Supernatural". "Maybe a lot of people don't know this, but Season 3, we were shooting an episode, and I went back to my trailer to get changed and just kind of broke down."

"A doctor came to set and talked to me for about 30 minutes or 45 minutes and said: 'Jared, I think you're clinically depressed. I think I should write you a note and we can shut down production for five days and then we can take it from there'," Padalecki remembers. "And it kind of hit me like a sack of bricks."

"I mean, I was 25 years old. I had my own TV show. I had dogs that I loved and tons of friends and I was getting adoration from fans and I was happy with my work, but I couldn't figure out what it was; it doesn't always make sense is my point. It's not just people who can't find a job, or can't fit in in society that struggle with depression sometimes."

He adds, "I say constantly that there's no shame in dealing with these things. There's no shame in having to fight every day, but fighting every day, and presumably, if you're still alive to hear these words or read this interview, then you are winning your war. You're here."

"You might not win every battle. There are going to be some really tough days. There might be several tough times in any given single day, but hopefully, this will help somebody to think, 'This isn't easy; it is a fight, but I'm going to keep fighting.' "