Dalawang beses nagtangkang magpakamatay si Gab Valenciano.
Nagmuntikan siyang tumalon mula sa 22nd floor ng isang condo tower, at dumating din sa puntong sinaktan ang kanyang sarili dahil sa depression.
Ito ang matapang na inamin ni Gab sa kanyang mahabang Instagram post kahapon, September 11, isang araw makalipas ang World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10).
“World Suicide Prevention Day isn’t just a day where we celebrate victories of those who have survived, instead, it is an awareness day where we magnify the importance and significance of how to deal with this growing epidemic,” bungad ng post ng 31-anyos na musician.
“As of today, one person dies every forty seconds by suicide. That is not a good statistic at all.
“I would have been part of that statistic, twice, if not for the grace of God and love for my family and friends.”
FAILED SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
Sa bahaging ito na ikinuwento ni Gab ang dalawang beses niyang pagtatangka sa sariling buhay, batay na rin sa mga litratong kalakip ng post.
Sa unang litrato, makikita si Gab na nakasuot ng face mask.
Ang ikalawang litrato ay naka-zoom in sa dalawang hospital tags na nakasuot sa kanya, kung saan nakasulat ang kanyang pangalan, birthday, at pangalan ng kanyang doktor, habang ang isa pang tag ay nasusulatan ng “FALL RISK.”
Makikita naman sa ikatlong litrato ang kaliwang braso ni Gab na may mahahaba at malalalim na galos.
Kuwento ni Gab, “Hanging from the twenty second floor of a condominium, deliberately hurting myself and substance abuse could have been the end of my story, but I believe that my failed attempts had a greater calling, and that calling is to reach out and help as many people as I can who are struggling with mental health issues, through empathy and compassion.”
FIGHTING DEPRESSION
Kasabay nito, nanawagan si Gab sa mga dumaranas ng depression na huwag pagtangkaan ang sariling buhay.
Apela ni Gab, “Please everyone, there are people willing to listen and help. It doesn’t need to end this way.
“The only way to battle this is to fight together so fight with us.
“Surround yourself with the right people and feed your soul with the right content. You can do this.
“Stay alive, my dear friends. You are enough and you are worth it.”
Nagbigay rin si Gab ng suicide hotline.
“The Philippine Suicide Hotline is 896-9191 or 0917-854- 9191. #suicideprevention #worldsuicidepreventionday.”
Sa comments section, nagpaabot naman ng pagmamahal at suporta kay Gab ang kanyang inang si Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, kapatid na si Kiana Valenciano, at tiyuhing si Anthony Pangilinan, gayundin ang iba pang kaibigan at celebrities.
“STRUGGLING MENTALLY ON A DAILY BASIS”
February 19 ngayong taon nang mag-post si Gab ng litrato niya habang naka-confine sa ospital.
Bagamat hindi nakadetalye kung ano ang dahilan ng pagkakaospital ni Gab, ang caption niya ay tungkol sa “mental health and instability.”
Nagpasalamat naman siya sa kanyang pamilya at sa mga doktor “who stopped at nothing to make sure I was okay.”
Saad pa sa caption noon ni Gab: “God bless you all and God bless everyone who struggles mentally on a daily basis.
“I will come out of this stronger, better, wiser and faster than ever.”
Note: May handang makinig at tumulong sa mga taong dumaranas ng depression. Tumawag sa mga hotlines ng The Hopeline Project sa (02) 804-HOPE (4673), sa 0917 558 HOPE (4673), o sa 2919 (toll-free number sa lahat ng Globe at TM subscribers).