Actress and filmmaker Adanma Luke has bravely shared her harrowing struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts after the tragic death of her colleague, Junior Pope Odonwodu, who drowned on her movie set in April. In a deeply emotional Instagram post, Luke recounted the dark period she endured, revealing how the overwhelming grief and pressure pushed her to the brink of despair.
At the height of her mental health battle, Luke turned to senior colleague Uche Nancy for solace. She credited Nancy’s words of encouragement and steadfast support with helping her find the strength to keep going.
“With so much tears in my eyes after so much pressure and expenses in April, I reached out to this beautiful soul @uchenancy,” Luke wrote. “She said Ada, don’t worry, I dey for you. Just let me know if there’s more to do and I won’t abandon you. She spoke as if she was me and gave me instances of why I should stay alive and strong.”
Luke admitted that during that dark time, she had lost interest in everything, even stopping breastfeeding her three-month-old baby, as the sadness overwhelmed her. The pain was exacerbated by harsh words from the families of the deceased and online fans, adding to her sense of hopelessness.
Her mother took the child away to prevent her from feeding her baby in a state of sadness. Luke revealed that she only stayed online to escape from the emotional pain, finding some comfort in messages of love and support from friends and fans.
Despite the darkness that surrounded her, Luke found renewed hope through Uche Nancy’s kindness. She acknowledged the immense financial and emotional support she received from Nancy, which helped her navigate the difficult period.
Luke concluded her heartfelt post by expressing gratitude for Nancy’s unwavering support: “Please help me say a kind prayer for this beautiful soul @uchenancy because she didn’t just help me with huge financial support but also made sure I’m doing ok till now. I can’t end my 2024 without appreciating you, my beautiful hardworking woman @uchenancy. May God continue to bless you richly.”