Cara Delevingne Opens Up About Depression, Says She 'Didn't Want to Live Anymore'

The model has been battling depression since the age of 15.

ByABC News
October 14, 2015, 11:44 AM
Cara Delevingne attends the Mademoiselle Prive Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, Oct. 12, 2015, in London.
Cara Delevingne attends the Mademoiselle Prive Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, Oct. 12, 2015, in London.
Dave Benett/Getty Images

— -- Model and actress Cara Delevingne is ready to open up about the mental illness she has been battling for years.

In an interview with Rupert Everett at the Women in the World Summit in London on Oct. 9, Delevingne talked about her past struggles with depression and how her picture-perfect life was not as perfect it seemed.

"In our culture we are told that if we are beautiful, if we are skinny, if we are successful, famous, if we fit in, if everyone loves us, that we'll be happy. But that's not entirely true," said Delevingne.

The 23-year-old model revealed that her battle with depression started when she was just 15 years old.

"I really wanted to do well at school to please my parents, to please my family," said Delevingne. "I didn’t really care that much about school because I knew I was never going to be very good at it. I think I pushed myself so far, I got to the point where I had a bit of a mental breakdown."

Delevingne said that the dark thoughts were so bad that at one point she contemplated taking her own life.

"I got to the point where I was a bit mad. I was completely suicidal, didn’t want to live anymore," said Delevingne. "I thought that I was completely alone. I also realized how lucky I was and what a wonderful family, wonderful friends I had, but that didn’t matter. I wanted the world to swallow me up, and nothing seemed better to me than death.”

Delevingne also revealed that she still struggled with depression after hitting it big as a model. She admitted that fellow supermodel Kate Moss helped get her back on her feet after hitting a low point.

"I eventually took a break, to the advice of Kate Moss who picked me up off the floor at a very stressful time," said Delevingne.

The "Paper Towns" actress said yoga and writing "saved her life."

“It was like, I would write and I would read what I’d written, and it was like someone else is talking to me…it was like, ‘What? Is that how I feel?’ It was a very strange experience,” Delevingne said.

Delevingne said she wants to inspire young girls and spread the message that depression is "not something to be ashamed of.”

"My message has always been to accept yourself no matter what, to love yourself, to embrace your flaws," said Delevingne. "I think flaws are things that make us special. The cracks within us are the beautiful parts that need to have light shed on them.”

Watch the full interview below: