Model/actress Cara Delevingne suffered from severe depression as a teenager, and felt "completely suicidal".

The Brit served as a guest speaker at the recent Women in The World conference in London, where she candidly opened up about her mental health struggles and how it affected her rise in the fashion industry.

"I was completely suicidal, didn't want to live anymore," the 23 year old confessed. "I thought that I was completely alone. I also realized that I had a wonderful family and wonderful friends, but that didn't matter. I wanted the world to swallow me up, and nothing seemed better to me than death, which is completely insane."

The model now hopes talking about her past struggles will help others share their own personal stories, stating, "Mental illness and 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. I think flaws are the things that make us special."

Cara turned to therapy and anti-depressant medicine to help her battle her dark days, but the counseling and medication couldn't prepare her for a whirlwind modeling career, which initially took a toll on her physical health at the age of 17, when exhaustion and psoriasis floored her.

Cara told the audience she wanted someone to "stop" her fast-paced career, and admitted supermodel Kate Moss pushed her to take a break, and ultimately "picked me up off the floor".