San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Rep. “Rida” Robes on advocating Mental Health

Being a congresswoman means you have to be concerned in just one problem or situation, it means coping to everyone's need as long as you can and try your best to help just like how San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Rep. “Rida” Robes handles every issues and situations, problems she thought should be addressed. One of the issues Congresswoman Rida is addressing is about "Mental Health."

Rida is an advocate for mental health. Many times, so to speak, she has stared depression in the eye — from the personal experiences of her relatives, from the deaths of teenagers in her town. Sure she lives a comfortable life but it does not sit well with her that in her own backyard, depression claims lives.

“In one public high school in a barangay in our town, 10 students, all teenagers, died of suicide due to mental health issues, in a span of one year. Many of the cases are related to online bullying,” says Rida.

“Depression needs to be treated. Early intervention can come in the form of caring. It helps a lot when a depressed individual knows someone cares,” says Rida, who could have been a psychologist had she not shifted to Hotel and Restaurant Management in St. Paul College-Manila.

Recently, Rida, with other lawmakers like Pangasinan Rep. Baby Arenas and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Ann Hofer, signed a partnership with Korean-based Sunfull Foundation, an international non-governmental organization that further raises mental health awareness among young individuals and helps combat cyberbullying.

According to Rida, many studies have shown that the Philippines has one of the highest cases of depression in Southeast Asia. “Reports also say that at least 3.3 million Filipinos suffer from depression,” she adds.

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/allure/2019/10/27/1963539/changing-faces?fbclid=IwAR1eVXTBmll4OL9xzaU0COZcptw0tgfLVRp0-BzVmRc7h37RH-rkMxq3v5U#IpjJlvPVmQP9llP3.99