Paulo Avelino got real about his mental health struggles as he advocates the use of a crisis hotline for help. Image: Instagram/@rjdelacruz
Paulo Avelino spoke anew of a “dark period” that he experienced, when he battled “depression and suicidal thoughts.”
The actor previously spoke of his mental health struggles last August when he admitted having a suicide attempt years back. He previously denied in 2013 that he had tried to take his own life.
READ: Paulo Avelino opens up on suicide attempt years ago, regrets not being able to save friend’s life
Avelino posted on Instagram today, Nov. 5, a personal account of how he shut himself out from help. He also gave a trigger warning as he shared an old picture of his slit wrist that had been stitched up. He said he was speaking up now for others who may be suffering as he did.
“I want you to know that everybody has issues and sometimes you seeing other people have them will help you cope with your own,” he said.
“Years back I found myself in a place where I only saw one way out. I went through a [spiraling] journey of depression and suicidal thoughts. Where everything seemed like nothing [mattered] anymore. Locked myself at home, turned down almost every job that came in and shut myself off from work, friends, family, the world,” he revealed.
Avelino said being an introvert, he has a tendency to keep thoughts to himself and “didn’t know how to voice out all these feelings and thoughts inside me.”
“Please, don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends, family, and loved ones,” he appealed. “Don’t be scared to voice out what you feel no matter how hard it is. Never lose HOPE.”
He advised the use of the suicide prevention hotline, Hopeline, “[i]f you aren’t ready to open up to the people closest to you.”
Hopeline can be reached through 804-HOPE (4673), 0917558-HOPE or 2919, which is toll-free for Globe and TM subscribers. The crisis line was created by the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, a nonprofit which advocates mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
This year, Hopeline lost funding from the Department of Health after the government developed its own crisis hotline numbers, 0917899-USAP (8727) or 989-USAP. Hopeline decided to continue operations through donations. JB
RELATED STORIES:
How speaking up about suicide can save lives
Gab Valenciano discharged from hospital, thanks dad Gary and mom Angeli