Read: Experts to Filipinos: Prioritize mental health, fight stigma
She included a screenshot of her medical certificate dated January 7, 2025.
“2025, I was diagnosed with depression and anxious distress. I had my several rounds of medication,” Rabiya began in the caption of her post.
Photo/s: Rabiya Mateo on Facebook
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At the height of her battle, the beauty queen said she chose to leave the country to protect her mental health and avoid triggers, describing her daily life as a constant fight for survival.
“I left the country for 3 months so I won’t get triggered by people who have no idea what I’ve been going through.
“Every day was a struggle to survive. I almost deactivated everything and disappeared to have a quiet and peaceful life.
“I fought hard and still fighting up until now,” she said.
Read: Rabiya Mateo finds closure after reconnecting with biological dad
Rabiya MATEO ON Emman Atienza’s death
According to Rabiya, there were times when she wanted to give up until the sudden passing of social media influencer Emman Atienza deeply affected her.
The TV host-actress said that seeing what happened to Emman and witnessing the pain experienced by former TictoClock co-host Kim Atienza and his family strengthened her resolve.
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Read: Kim Atienza shares how he deals with death of daughter Emman
At that time, she made a promise to herself to keep fighting and never give up.
“When I saw what happen to Emman and saw how painful it was for Kuya Kuya Kim Atienza and his family, I made a promise to myself to never give up because I dont want my Mama to experience the same thing.”
Read: Jeric Gonzales, iwas pag-usapan ang breakup nila ni Rabiya Mateo
Rabiya ended her post with a heartfelt reminder about compassion, stressing how small acts of kindness can mean everything to someone battling depression.
Photo/s: Rabiya Mateo on Instagram
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“You don’t know how little kindness mean to a depressed person like me and how your words can push me to do something else,” she wrote.
Read: Celebrities urge kindness amid rising mental health struggles
Meanwhile, Rabiya’s comments section was flooded with messages of love and support.
One netizen wrote (published as is): “Laban hanggang lumipas ang sakit dahil lahat ng sakit ay may katapusan at may naghihintay na saya sa buhay.
“Being resilient is not being strong all the time, it is keeping moving forward with optimism that pain is temporary and life will always get better… Always.”
Another netizen threw in (published as is): “Thank you for your courage and honesty, Rabiya.
“We see your strength, we hear your story, and we want you to know you are never alone.
“Your life matters, your healing matters, and you are deeply valued and loved. We are proud of you for choosing to stay and to keep fighting. We stand with you always.”
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To those who are seeking either someone to talk to or professional help because of mental health issues, you may call National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 1553, Landline (02) 7-989-8727 and mobile number 0966-351-4518.