Embracing life

Google “celebrity tragedies” and you will find names like Nikki Bacharach (daughter of pianist and composer Burt Bacharach and Hollywood actress Angie Dickinson), who suffocated using a plastic bag and helium; Dennis and Lindsay Crosby (sons of Bing Crosby, one of America’s music icons), who took their own lives by gunshot two years apart; George Eastman (inventor of the Kodak camera) by gunshot; Frances Fonda Seymour (mother of Hollywood actress Jane Fonda), who slit her throat; and David Foster Wallace, the essayist and best-selling novelist who hanged himself. His father said that he had long suffered from depression.

Who would have thought that beneath Wallace’s impeccable pedigree and gifted talent lurked a mind so tortured that no amount of success could keep him from taking his own life?

In our own circle of family and friends, depression has come so close to home that we watched or experienced the insurmountable pain that gripped those of us who were left behind.  

Vice Mayor of Quezon City Joy Belmonte

 If only we were told or had been taught about the root of this illness. 

 Dr. Ricky Soler explains, “Depression has been defined as ‘the loss of joy, the absence of the normal human ability to be happy and enjoy life.’”

 Depression is a real illness, as real as diabetes and cancer. But the good news is that it can be managed and the first step — perhaps the most important step — is to manage the condition.

“The best way to fight depression is through education.” This is the objective of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF), established in memory of the late daughter of fashion designer Jeannie Goulbourn, who was a victim of this misunderstood illness.  

Since its formation in 2002, NGF has reached out to target groups in Manila through free lectures and workshops to lift the veil of secrecy and misconceptions, perhaps ignorance, on depression. NGF also provides hotlines for immediate counseling and assistance. They also flew to Hong Kong to speak to our overseas workers who were exposed and subject to the abuse and frustrations that could lead to depression and its tragic consequence — suicide.

Yoly Ong and Honey Carandang

“It doesn’t have to end in tragedy,” Jeannie emphasized. “There is help, there is hope and to our kababayan, we can lick this,” was her battle cry. 

Today, NGF is not the new kid on the block anymore. It has expanded its reach to gather the different sectors of the local government and tap them to help spread awareness about depression. Imagine the possibility of being able to reach people in far-flung or isolated areas who never used to have any access to these information and services.

And so I listened to Department of Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman. She beamed with excitement at the thought that NGF can be a resource group that can provide a network of assistance and help — well-timed and much-needed — by our fellow countrymen. “How exciting that we have committed people who will help us not only spread the word but take appropriate action as well,” she said. 

 There was Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte speaking earnestly of the availability of such services manned by experts in the field. “When I go around our districts and barangays, I feel good to know that there is NGF that can help us get people in touch with the right services and experts. That would be a tremendous help for our barangay, our schools, our public clinics, and to our policemen and government employees. The idea that we can help, we can stop the tragedy, and we can save lives gets me even more motivated.”  

Paulyn Ubial of the Department of Health likewise expressed enthusiasm over the use of materials and resources to educate the public and remove the prejudices toward depression. 

The Department of Education’s Atty. Toni Umali talked about the alliance that NGF has formed with some of the leading institutions of learning like the University of the Philippines, Miriam College and Ateneo.  I saw Sara Soliven de Guzman of OB Montessori listening intently. 

 “As early as the first level of education, the seed of resentment and aggression can be planted,” said Dr. Honey Carandang, a noted child psychologist. There have been cases of bullying in school that can damage the young mind. If left unchecked or not addressed or corrected immediately, this could lead to feelings of helplessness, of weakness in character, of fear and eventually, of depression. Later on, hazing or being ridiculed, ostracized, persecuted or even subjected to torture can occur.

 The Philippine Psychiatric Association represented by Dr. Romeo Enriquez has actually formulated depression management and treatment modalities that can be most useful to push the mental health programs further. The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), represented by Dr. Caridad Tarroja, could work along the same lines as the Psychiatric Association while media can push the info blitz against depression. Through the creative talents of Ompong Remigio and Yoly Ong from Campaigns & Grey, a video was created to jolt and stir the public to seek help and take control of their lives.

The full agenda will be kicked off by a fit-and-fun run in time with the celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day. What can we therefore expect on Friday, Sept. 9 at the Quezon Memorial Center? (Come early, at 5:30 a.m.). There’ll be power walking — in Nike shoes from Anton Gonzalez — and singing and dancing. A series of lectures and workshops will further expand the public’s knowledge on depression and how to lick it.

“Let’s walk the blues away and work on a sound body and spirit,” urged Jeannie.

As I made my exit from this committed group, I heard someone singing What a Wonderful World. Indeed, in more ways than just singing about it.

Nothing can beat the joy of embracing life.