Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide. That is approximately 2,000 people every day, or 1 person every 40 seconds. Online, more and more people rise to spread awareness, yet in real life, the stigma remains around seeking help.

In the Philippines, suicide rates are highest among those aged 15-29 years old. Even amidst societal development, the misconception that seeking professional help means weakness, still remains. Rising factors include academic pressure, cyberbullying, family issues, and the stigma around mental health discouraging the youth from speaking up.

Teenagers are often told by adults to tough it out, or that kids are too dramatic these days simply because they "didn't have these problems in their days." But the truth is that this issue has always been prevalent; they simply did not speak up about it back then.

Seeking help is not weakness. In fact, admitting your most vulnerable parts and acknowledging that you are in need of assistance takes a vast amount of strength. Facing it head-on is harder than turning and running. Weakness is not when you admit you're drowning, it is when you insist on sinking because you feel too prideful to acknowledge all the water around you.

Growth cannot happen with the stigma surrounding it. Sign this petition to help our cause.