Image: Instagram/@nadine
Since losing her brother Isaiah, Nadine Lustre has kept a strong front, using her voice to raise awareness on mental health.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, she revealed that she would be taking a break from work.
On coping with the tragic loss, she said, “Medyo nasa healing stage pa. Siyempre hindi naman po ganun kadaling mag-move on (I’m still at the healing stage. Of course, it’s not that easy to move on).”
“Nung bago pa lang, ang hirap. ‘Yung emotions ko hindi ko ma-control and then siyempre ‘yung pag-iisip ko medyo [magulo na rin]. Sobrang stressful,” she shared.
(It was hard just after it happened. I couldn’t control my emotions and of course my thoughts were jumbled. It was so stressful.)
In her boyfriend of over one year and love team partner James Reid, she found a source of strength. “Happy ako na nandiyan siya, hindi siya napapagod na mag-support lang sa akin (I’m happy he’s there for me, that he doesn’t get tired of supporting me).”
In September, James Reid and Nadine Lustre went hiking with friends to Mt. Ulap in Benguet. Image: Instagram/@nadine
She shared that her family has grown closer since the tragedy. “Mas nagkikita po kami ngayon, bonding, nagce-celebrate ng mga birthdays (We see each other more often, bonding, celebrating birthdays together).”
Her 24th birthday today is being spent in Japan with Reid and her family.
Family members like dad, Ulysses, have also used social media to speak up on depression, which Lustre herself has also suffered from.
Isaiah, 16, took his own life in their family home early October.
As a message of hope and support to those suffering from mental health issues, Ulysses tattooed the words “Keep Going” on his hand.
Reid said of his girlfriend, “She’s been doing good. It’s not easy what she’s going through so this kind of thing really just takes time and patience.” Niña V. Guno /ra
For anyone who requires emotional crisis assistance, contact the suicide prevention hotline HOPELINE at 09175584673 / 02-8044673 / and 2919 toll free for Globe/TM subscribers.
RELATED STORIES:
READ: Nadine Lustre’s father gets tattoo of semicolon and ‘Keep Going’
LOOK: Nadine Lustre reaches out to fan with depression, ‘Love yourself’
Nadine Lustre’s touching message for late brother