AT THE start of this commemoration of Mental Wellness Week, please allow me to quote a part of an article from the social media page of Mentalhealthmentorss:
“Not every scar is visible… and not every smile means everyone is okay. We live in a world obsessed with visual perfection. But behind filtered photos and polite conversations, people are fighting silent battles – anxiety, grief, trauma, depression, insecurities – things we may never know… “
Many years ago, a stage actor and dear friend, whom we thought everyone knew so well, ended his life. Having known him through the late nineties up till the early 2000s, I have long known that his warm and excitable speaking style, which I was able to witness on many occasions, also betrayed a deep seriousness within, which I could only respect as a reserved part that only a few people in his inner sanctum were privy to.
I wasn’t the least worried, though. Ours was a professional bond that was also developed into friendship, forged more strongly, especially during one time when, as part of an ensemble that lengthily toured Mindanao and ended with a grand finale at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila, camaraderie became a vital component in that performance tour.
The disbelief we felt at the time was long-lasting. In a sense, one could say we’ve all been betrayed by the normalcy with which he carried on. The stark reality of that ugly word, suicide, is like having one to directly face the sun. I’m sure, in his final hour, there was no drama there. No accompanying soundtrack to dictate or soften the emotions going through his mind. Upon news of his deed, the effect had been the same on us all. Just flat silence.
Just recently, the daughter of a media personality had done the same thing, after having been subjected to online (and I suspect actual) bullying. Just like my friend and her, many others have surely come before, orphaning countless fathers and mothers, families and friends who love them.
Poring through many existing reads and all sorts of help desks on all media, I can only say, they’re not enough to stem the tide of this growing statistic, especially among our young. Many feel strongly that the faceless trait, readily-offered by the web to people, for them to be emboldened at demeaning others, is one of the causes whereby many lose their empathy towards others.
Going back to the particular article on wellness quoted earlier, in spite of all, we’ve only to remember, it can happen to the rest of us and one reminder which can guide us through this is never to forget: everyone we meet is carrying a story you can’t see. Before anything, let us choose compassion over criticism.
