In light of Suicide Prevention Month this September, celebrities are using their platforms to raise awareness about mental health and speak up about their own struggles. (Trigger warning: Mentions of suicide, depression)
Filipino-German model Maureen Wroblewitz shared her struggles with depression and mental health at a young age and how she has battled through them in a heartfelt Instagram post on 6 September.
"This is a reminder to check on your friends and family. Most people suffer in silence and depression is usually hidden behind smiles and laughter," Wroblewitz wrote on Instagram.
The photo series began with a young Wroblewitz shown smiling brightly. "This girl that you see smiling and posing in front of the camera was thinking of all the easiest ways to end her life just a few months prior. If it wasn't for her little sister finding her in a vulnerable situation and telling her parents about it, I don't know if I would be here today," Wroblewitz revealed in the caption.
"I was fighting my inner demons alone because I chose to suffer in silence. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems but I also was too ashamed of them," she added, referring to her mother's passing when she was 11 and how it put her in a difficult place mentally.
Then, the 25-year-old model shared that her parents encouraged her to start seeing a therapist, while her father gave her Nick Vujicic's book Life Without Limits, which changed her outlook.
"Nick's story had made me realize that at just 13, I hadn't seen the world yet… From then on I knew I had to make my dreams a reality, I knew I couldn't hide in the darkness forever," she continued.
Her improved outlook allowed her to see life from a different perspective. "Just that change of mindset opened a lot of doors for me… A year later I got discovered by my now momager on Instagram and three years after that, I was living my dreams in the Philippines," she said in previous fashion blog that she reshared on Instagram.
"I believe that even if I get to help just one person by sharing my story, I have done something right," she added. Now, she said, she is no longer afraid to ask for help and receives continuous support from her family and boyfriend.
Wroblewitz's open letter ended positively, thanking everyone who became her source of strength and for making her dreams come true.
"I can now say that I'm extremely proud of myself, not just for all my achievements but for having found the strength to fight for what I believed in. I'm glad I didn't give up on myself. I now know that I am truly meant for something bigger," the letter concluded.
In 2021, the beauty queen also opened up about her struggles with depression and anxiety on Instagram.
"You only see what I post on social media but what I don't show are the challenges I go through everyday… I pressure myself to improve but it only hurts me. It is okay not to be okay, it is okay to be sad and cry, it is okay to feel unmotivated and unproductive," she shared.
In 2017, Wroblewitz became the first Filipina to win Asia's Next Top Model, despite being considered the competition's underdog because of her inexperience and height.
Four years later, she represented Pangasinan in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant, where she placed first runner-up.
If you are suffering from depression, know that you are not alone and help and support are always available. Feel free to contact the mental health helplines below:
HOPELINE: (02) 8804-4673
In Touch- Crisis Line: +63 2 8893 7603
NCMH Crisis Hotline: +639 086392672
Child Helpline 1-6-3: 163