Ghanaian actor, James Gardiner, has addressed misconceptions surrounding his mental health, particularly refuting claims of battling depression following an Instagram post on his birthday.

He clarified that his expression of frustration stemmed from the lack of support for his business endeavors from close associates, leading to his discontent and subsequent social media posts.

Gardiner stressed that voicing frustration and dissatisfaction online does not necessarily indicate depression.

During an interview with Elsie Lamar on GhanaWeb TV at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), he clarified the misunderstanding.

"I was misconstrued. There's a difference between being unhappy and being depressed. I was unhappy because I started a business and the people I know didn't support me as much as they should have. That's what the post was about.

"Imagine investing in a business and it's not working out, that's what I was referring to. People can have their opinions, but I don't let it bother me. I've been in the industry long enough to understand how it operates," he clarified.

This statement comes in response to Gardiner's Instagram post on May 16, 2024, where he shared the challenges his business had encountered.

"In 2018, I started a car rental company. It was going well until Covid hit, and then the business suffered for about 2 years. I sold the cars and invested in a nightclub in Ghana, hoping for success. But it hasn't worked out as expected, at least not yet. Not much support from friends and family. The ones who did support really did! I'm working and doing what I love—acting! But I'm just not happy. I feel empty, honestly. Is all of this worth it?" the post read.

While some netizens interpreted this as a sign of depression, Gardiner has now clarified otherwise.

Watch the video below:



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