Pretty Little Liars' Troian Bellisario details her anorexia in Hillary Clinton PSA

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The 31-year-old actress, who started restricting her eating when she was a junior, said before becoming ill she was a 'happy, carefree kid'
Speaking in a voting public service ad, Troian said that anorexia made it difficult for her to eat and to communicate with others
Describing her experience of the illness, she said it is 'about presenting a front of "everything is OK" as you're slowly killing yourself'
Backing the Democratic presidential candidate, she also urged Americans to vote in tomorrow's election

Published: 16:34 EST, 7 November 2016 | Updated: 19:13 EST, 7 November 2016

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Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario said she could have died from anorexia had she not received the appropriate treatment.

The 31-year-old actress, who started restricting her eating when she was a junior, said she went from being a 'happy, carefree kid' to feeling like she could not eat or communicate with others.

Speaking in support of Hillary Clinton in an ATTN: voting public service ad, the television star said: 'If I had been just sort of shunned to the side as not having real problems, I don't know that I would be living today.'

Potentially fatal: Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario, 31, pictured, said she could have died without anorexia treatment as she spoke in support of Hillary Clinton in a public service ad

Life-changing: The 31-year-old American actress, pictured recently, said before becoming ill she was a 'happy, carefree kid'

'With anorexia a lot of it is about presenting a front of "everything is OK" as you're slowly killing yourself.

'Gone were the days where I was just a happy, carefree kid who was running around.

'And suddenly I felt this inability to interact with people and to nourish myself.'

In the somber video, which features the actress shot in a dimly lit studio, Troian said she supports the Democratic candidate for 'so many reasons' including her approach to mental health.

Debilitating: Troian said that anorexia made it difficult for her to eat and to communicate with others

Lethal: Describing her experience of the illness, Troian, pictured in Hollywood in August, said it is 'about presenting a front of "everything is OK" as you're slowly killing yourself'

She said: 'It's a huge issue and I am such a huge supporter of Mrs Clinton for so many reasons, specifically because she has been such a huge advocate for health care.

'And her definition of health care includes mental health care. And that to me is just, it's the deciding factor between both candidates.'

She added: 'I just want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunity for treatment that I have and I think that we have to make sure that our government invests in those programs.'

The ad claims that one in five Americans have a mental health condition and 57 per cent of adults with mental illness do not get treated.

Vital: Backing the Democratic presidential candidate, Troian, pictured left aged 17 and right in 2010, urged Americans to vote in tomorrow's election

Hillary supporter: Troian said she supports the Democratic candidate, pictured today in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for 'so many reasons' including her approach to mental health

Urging people to ensure they vote in tomorrow's election, Troian said: 'What matters is that we continue to make our voices heard in this great democracy, so please vote.'

Posting the video on Instagram, the actress said 'early detection, diagnosis and treatment' saved her life.

She called for schools programs to support students suffering from mental health issues and for support and help for adults.