By Mariah Yvette Papina | Photo Courtesy: Compassion Philippines
It often takes a tragedy for people to remember to be kind. When someone takes their own life, the same online crowd that once mocked or judged suddenly turns gentle, posting condolences, sharing stories, and urging others to be kind. As if the words that wounded were never theirs. Only then does mental health become a trending topic. Suddenly, people talk about sympathy, caution others to think before they speak, and remind everyone that kindness is free.
But why does compassion always seem to come after loss?
Behind every username is a person, someone fighting battles we know nothing about. We can never live another’s life nor truly understand their struggles. Yet many still find it easy to criticize or make jokes about someone’s pain. This lack of restraint, especially online, mirrors our society’s uneven understanding of mental health.
Among many young Filipinos today, mental health is viewed as a legitimate condition, something that deserves empathy, medical attention, and open discussion. They have learned that acknowledging one’s struggles is not a sign of weakness but an act of self-awareness and courage. Conversations about anxiety, burnout, and depression are no longer marks of shame but of honesty.
However, for some in the older generation, the topic remains difficult to accept. They grew up in a time when strength meant silence and faith was seen as the only cure for pain. To them, enduring hardship without complaint is proof of resilience. That is why mental health struggles are often dismissed as being “mahina ang loob” or “kulang lang sa dasal.” What the youth recognize as illness, others still see as weakness.
This difference in belief is not born out of ignorance but out of context. The older generation was raised to survive, while the younger generation is learning to heal. Both carry forms of strength, but it is time they learn from each other. Faith and medicine, prayer and therapy, hope and honesty can coexist.
We should not wait for another tragedy before showing compassion. Mental health is real, and words have power. Whether spoken face-to-face or posted online, they leave ripples we may never see. As Filipinos, as friends, as strangers on the same screen, may we choose empathy before regret, and kindness before it is too late.