Paulo Avelino opens up on suicide attempt years ago, regrets not being able to save friend’s life
Paulo Avelino’s admission comes after he and his manager denied a suicide attempt in 2013. Image: Instagram/@mrdavidmilan
Paulo Avelino recently opened up about a suicide attempt years ago that he says only close friends were aware of.
Back in 2013, he and his manager denied such an attempt. The actor only said that he went through some personal issues, as per an October 2013 report from Bandera. It was also then that he confirmed his breakup with actress LJ Reyes, with whom he welcomed a son, Aki, in 2010.
The “General’s Daughter” actor made the revelation on Twitter on Thursday, Aug. 1 while remembering a close friend who died by suicide in 2018.
“I’ll let this out to the universe since I promised not to keep heavy feelings to myself,” he began his outpouring.
Avelino shared that his own attempt landed him in the hospital and that his late friend was one of those who looked after him.
Article continues after this advertisementA few years back I tried (attempted) committing suicide.I survived. No one really knew aside from my closest friends and he was one of them.
— PAULO (@mepauloavelino) July 31, 2019
“A few years back I tried (attempted) committing suicide. I survived,” Avelino said. “No one really knew aside from my closest friends and he was one of them.”
“He would switch shifts with a friend to stay with me in the hospital and even when I got discharged, just to make sure I wasn’t stupid enough to do it again,” he stated.
He called himself “selfish” for getting his friends’ support. “I demanded time and a part of their emotional state to flow along with mine.”
Avelino shared that the friend was his “go-to person” for the times he would feel low. One of those reasons was “that I had to see my son grow up.” Aki currently lives with Reyes and her partner Paolo Contis.
However, he regrets not being able to do the same for his friend even if he “saw it coming.”
“That one message you sent the night before [you] passed away, I brushed off in a joking manner,” Avelino said, addressing his departed friend.
Despite the guilt he feels, Avelino thanked his friend for saving his life: “I am living because of the hope and wisdom you engraved in me.” JB
The Philippine Department of Health has said that every case of suicide is a tragedy that can be avoided. Thus, people who feel that they may be suffering from mental health problems and need help may call Hopeline hotlines:
- 804-HOPE (4673)
- 0917-558-HOPE (4673), or
- 2919 (toll-free number for Globe and TM subscribers)
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If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)
Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.
