Janet Jackson talks about mental health struggles

Los Angeles: Singer Janet Jackson opened up about battling depression, saying the "tenacious" condition had her in its grip from her childhood. The 52-year-old Grammy winner said low self-esteem, issues of racism and sexism add to the toxic mix of mental health struggles.

In an open letter for Essence magazine, Jackson writes, "I struggled with depression. The struggle was intense... Low self-esteem might be rooted in childhood feelings of inferiority. It could relate to failing to meet impossibly high standards. And of course there are always the societal issues of racism and sexism." "Put it all together and depression is a tenacious and scary condition. Thankfully, I found my way through it," she added.

"Happiness came when people asked me to perform but I was happiest when I was pleasing others and not myself." she writes.During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere. Happiness is in gratitude to God. Happiness is saying, Thank you, God, for my life, my energy and my capacity to grow in love'," Jackson writes.