Singer-actress Ciara Sotto, admitting that she had suffered from depression, praised the passage of the Mental Health Law as it would help more Filipinos face mental health issues.
“With the passage of the mental health, I am optimistic that more and more Filipinos who are silently suffering from mental health conditions will get out of their hideaways and face the problem head on,” she said at a mental health forum at the Senate on Friday.
This was the first mental health forum held since President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Act on July 21.
Representing her father, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Ciara said sports and other physical activities helped her cope with depression.
“I myself suffered from depression, she said. “Although access to mental health was limited then, I was fortunate because I was able to cope up through various activities such as pole and areal sports and other workouts,” Ciara said.
Ciara said her father pushed for the passage of the law because it was an issue that is close to their family. /vvp