On World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa shared tips on how to slowly overcome depression.
“I’ve been there! It’s not easy but with the right efforts, it gets better. Just keep going!” Verzosa said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
The beauty queen said mental health is so difficult for people to understand because it’s not a tangible object or sickness that one can see or hold.”
She explained that although they are intangible, mental issues can also manifest physically, making the pain “real.”
“You are incapable of work, your relationships are tested, you’re depressed, looking for ways to numb the hurt,” she said.
World Mental Health Day, celebrated every October 10, is a day for mental health awareness and education against social stigma.
Verzosa also dedicated this day to people “who have survived, who have been battling their darkest days, or simply those with loved ones in need.”
The beauty queen has been an active mental health advocate since winning the Miss International 2016 title. She has also helped formed Mental Health Matters, an online support group dedicated to spread awareness on mental health.
In 2016, Verzosa admitted she had experienced depression first hand for more than half a year. /ee