Beyond statistics: A young Filipina’s mission to save lives from suicide

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Every September and October, the Philippines marks Suicide Prevention Month and World Mental Health Month—a crucial reminder of the country’s urgent mental health crisis.

The Philippine National Police recorded more than 2,000 suicide cases in the first half of this year alone, underscoring a growing tragedy that continues to impact families, schools, and communities nationwide.

For Ymari Kristia Pascua, Chief Empowerment Officer of Mental Health Youth Hub PH, these are not just statistics. “Behind every statistic is a story, a family, and a dream,” she emphasizes. “When we talk about suicide cases, we are not just talking about numbers. We are talking about lives and futures that matter.” Her mission is clear: bring conversations about mental health to every corner of the Philippines so no one feels they are fighting alone.

Pascua’s journey, once featured on Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK), mirrors the struggles of countless Filipinos. “My own story has been filled with struggles, but also with resilience,” Pascua shares. “I chose to turn my pain into purpose so that others do not feel they have to fight their battles alone.” Rising from personal battles, she became a youth mental health coach, speaker, and mentor. She now partners with local governments, schools, NGOs, and youth groups to create safe spaces, promote resilience, and champion suicide prevention, reaching audiences from major cities to remote towns.

When advocacy meets fandom, music communities

This year, Pascua brought her advocacy into the worlds where young Filipinos naturally gather: music and fandom communities. She recognized that these spaces are not only about entertainment but also about belonging, and she sought to transform them into safe havens for conversations on mental health.

“Music and fandoms are where young people gather, and these communities can be lifelines,” she explains. In September, she teamed up with BINI Mikha for a mental health seminar that reminded fans that fandom is more than cheering for an idol. It can also be a community of friendship, care, and mutual support. The initiative showed that the same energy fueling fan devotion can also be harnessed to spark understanding and compassion.

She also collaborated with Ben&Ben and their Liwanag community, weaving stories of hope and resilience into the band’s deeply emotional anthems like “Leaves,” “Courage,” and “Di Ka Sayang.”

“When we collaborated with BINI Mikha and Ben&Ben, it showed that the art we love can also help us heal,” Pascua reflects. These sessions highlighted how music, with its power to connect and heal, can serve as a lifeline for struggling youth, helping them feel seen, understood, and less isolated.

Through these collaborations, Pascua demonstrated that music and advocacy can be mutually beneficial. She turned concerts and fan spaces into platforms for healing and dialogue, proving that the art young people love can also guide them through life’s darkest moments.

Beyond the months of awareness

Wherever Pascua goes, she carries a powerful reminder. “Wherever I go, from cities to the smallest towns, I see the same truth: mental health is everyone’s concern,” she says. For her, mental health is not an abstract issue to be spoken of only in reports or commemorated once a year. It is a daily reality that shapes the way people live, learn, work, and connect with one another.

From city halls to rural schools, Pascua continues to travel across the Philippines to create safe spaces for open dialogue. In every community she visits, she emphasizes that mental health is not just the concern of those directly affected but of society as a whole. She encourages leaders, educators, families, and young people to see compassion as a practice that can save lives.

Her message is simple yet urgent. “Let us not limit mental health awareness to September or October,” Pascua urges. “Caring for our mental well-being should be part of our everyday lives, in every home and every community.” By making mental health a shared responsibility and a daily commitment, she believes that communities can break stigma, spark hope, and ensure that no one has to struggle in silence.

As conversations on mental health continue, Pascua, who also serves as a senior volunteer of I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers, Inc., where she leads its partnerships and mental health initiatives, reminds Filipinos that no one should face their struggles alone. Help is always within reach, and reaching out is a sign of courage, not weakness. If you or someone you know is struggling, there are hotlines ready to listen and provide support.

The National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1553 (toll-free via landline). For mobile users, Globe and TM subscribers may call 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-8727, while Smart, Sun, and TNT subscribers may dial 0908-639-2672. Hopeline PH is also available at (02) 8804-4673.

For those who wish to invite Ymari Kristia Pascua for talks, workshops, or collaborations, or for anyone seeking guidance and support on mental health, she may be reached at ymarikristia@gmail.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram at @ymarikristia or visit bit.ly/YmariKristiaPascua for more information.