Every September and October, the Philippines marks Suicide Prevention Month and World Mental Health Month. These observances are reminders of the country’s urgent mental health crisis. The Philippine National Police recorded over 2,000 suicide cases in just six months this year, underscoring a tragedy that continues to impact families, schools, and communities nationwide.
For Ymari Kristia Pascua, Chief Empowerment Officer of Mental Health Youth Hub PH, these numbers are deeply personal. “Behind every statistic is a story, a family, and a dream,” she stresses. Rising from her own strug 
gles once featured on Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK), Pascua chose to turn pain into purpose and became a youth mental health coach, speaker, and mentor.
When advocacy meets fandom
This year, Pascua brought her advocacy into places where young Filipinos already find belonging: music and fandom communities.
In September, she teamed up with BINI Mikha, showing Blooms that fandom is more than cheering for an idol. It can also be a community of friendship, care, and support.
She also collaborated with Ben&Ben and their fandom, Liwanag community, weaving conversations on hope and resilience into the band’s heartfelt 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 collaborations proved that fan devotion can be transformed into compassion, turning concerts and fan spaces into safe havens for dialogue, healing, and shared resilience.
Beyond awareness months
Pascua emphasizes that mental health should not be limited to once-a-year observances. “Wherever I go, from cities to the smallest towns, I see the same truth: mental health is everyone’s concern,” she says. Through her talks and workshops with schools, LGUs, and communities, she urges Filipinos to treat compassion as daily practice that can save lives.
Her message is clear: caring for mental health should be woven into everyday life, in every home and community.
As she continues her work, also serving as a senior volunteer with I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers, Inc., Pascua reminds Filipinos that no one has to face their struggles alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is within reach. 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 collaborations or speaking engagements, Pascua may be reached at ymarikristia@gmail.com, on Instagram @ymarikristia, or via bit.ly/YmariKristiaPascua.
