Image: Instagram/@kylieverzosa
Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa encourages people suffering from mental illnesses to get professional help and to “speak up about their mental health before it’s too late.”
“I’m going to tell you a known secret,” wrote Verzosa in an Instagram post last Saturday, July 28. “[Four] years ago I was diagnosed as clinically depressed. No one knew but my family, and I suffered and survived in silence.”
The beauty queen, who is also a mental health advocate, talked about her choice of advocacy: “When given the opportunity to speak about it, I took it, even when I was discouraged and told to focus on more visible and popular advocacies. This is very personal to me.”
“This is for everyone who’s suffered from depression, mood disorders, anxiety, bipolar disorder or any form of mental illness,” Verzosa said, dedicating her post to people with mental illnesses. “You are not alone.”
“I once thought I was crazy, or maybe I still am,” the beauty queen noted. “Who knows, we all need a bit of insanity to succeed. But it’s okay. Being honest about how you feel doesn’t make us weak, it makes us human.”
“Get help,” Verzosa advised. “Speak to someone. Let’s speak up more about mental health, before it’s too late.”
The beauty queen also uploaded a photo of her with other mental health advocates Antoinette Taus and Jerika Ejercito, alongside Philippine Mental Health Law author and principal sponsor Senator Risa Hontiveros, in the same platform last Friday, July 27.
“Celebrating the passing of the bill with @hontiverosrisa and her team,” wrote Verzosa. “So [honored] to be part of the bill’s advocates. This milestone will now help integrate mental health in our current healthcare system.”
Aside from championing the Philippine Mental Health Law, Verzosa also formed Mental Health Matters, an online support group dedicated to raising mental health awareness. JB
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