Maxene Magalona has added another feather to her cap, this time being named the official mental health ambassadress for the Bureau of Fire Protection.
"Last May 27, the Bureau of Fire Protection celebrated the first anniversary of their program Kalingang Bumbero Hotline which aims to provide a lifeline for those battling depression and suicidal tendencies," she shared on her Instagram page.
Maxene added: "They invited me to be their official mental health ambassadress and I wholeheartedly accepted because I want to help them promote their hotline 🙏🏼."
She expressed how grateful she is for the opportunity to support the cause. "I feel so honored and privileged to be able to advocate for such a wonderful and meaningful cause," she remarked.
Maxene also encouraged those struggling to reach out to the hotline, which operates 24/7. "If you feel alone and need someone to talk to, just dial 0962 4584 237 ☎️."
In a separate post back in May for Mental Health Awareness Month, the actress opened up about her personal battle with depression in 2019. She recalled feeling “disconnected and dissociated” during her yoga teacher training in Thailand, unaware at the time that she was suffering from depression.
"I didn’t know it at the time but apparently, I was depressed which was why I lost so much weight 😱," she revealed. "Looking back, I was so disconnected and dissociated because I wasn’t being true to myself. I kept trying to be the person that everyone around me needed me to be which left me feeling so exhausted. I don’t blame anyone though—I admit that I chose to do this to myself, unconsciously."
Maxene also reflected on common misconceptions about depression, emphasizing that the opposite of depression is not happiness, but expression.
"Did you know that happiness is not the opposite of depression but rather, expression? We get depressed because we don’t allow ourselves to express what we’re truly feeling. We unconsciously suppress our emotions because we grew up thinking that they shouldn’t be felt or expressed," she said.
The actress went on: "We were often told to “stop crying,” or else we would get punished which eventually made us scared to share what we were feeling. So, while living with so much fear and anxiety, we chose to numb the pain by overeating, shopping, partying and drinking alcohol."
She further noted that depression remains a taboo subject in many circles back in the day.
"Depression is very real but rarely talked about. When people share that they are feeling depressed, they are often told that they are overreacting or making a big deal out of nothing. This is because mental health issues were not really discussed back then as they would often bring up feelings of awkwardness or discomfort," she recalled.