RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT:
In this episode of The Karencitta Show (a podcast): Karencitta pulls back the curtain on the alarming mental health crisis affecting millions of young Filipinos today.
According to the Department of Health, 3.6 million Filipinos are battling mental health issues — and broader studies suggest this number could be closer to 12 million. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are at the core of this surge, with suicide now the second leading cause of death among Filipino youth aged 15 to 29. What’s behind this crisis? And how do we begin to heal?
Joining Karencitta is Kirk Patrick Castro, a seasoned mental health professional and advocate, and the Founder & CEO of Gestalt Wellness Institute Southeast Asia. Kirk is a Registered Guidance Counselor and Psychometrician, an International Certified Gestalt Therapist, and a Life Skills Coach — currently pursuing his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Silliman University. With over a decade of frontline experience, he shares deep insight on how young people can understand, process, and overcome the struggles they face.
✨ Whether you’re struggling silently, supporting a friend, or simply curious about how to be mentally healthier in a chaotic world — this episode will meet you where you are.
Plus, we talk about Karencitta’s own journey with Gestalt Wellness Institute, and how therapy helped her realign with herself.
📌 Chapters:
(0:00) - Intro
(3:02) - Anxiety and Depression
(3:33) - Sadness vs. Major Depressive Disorder aka Clinical Depression
(4:25) - DSM
(4:55) - Strong indictor of Major Depressive Disorder
(5:45) - The prevalence among Filipino Gen Z and Millennials today
(8:19) - Societal, digital or even spiritual pressures
(9:19) - Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
(9:49) - OFW's
(11:08) - Common misconceptions
(12:30) - Cultural expectations
(15:29) - High-functioning individuals
(16:59) - Clinical Depression
(17:38) - Labeling and entitlement
(18:00) - What is Anxiety?
(18:09) - Biggest silent killers
(19:44) - Post-Pandemic Anxiety
(20:23) - Advice: household taboo
(20:45) - Mental Health Act
(22:18) - Psychoeducation
(23:06) - Advice: pressure from their own family
(24:45) - Causes of pressures, “soft quitting,” “burning out,” or constantly anxious
(25:26) - Toxic hustle culture in the Philippines? Seen = laziness and burnout = a badge of honor
(26:44) - First steps to take when Depressed
(28:10) - Grounding techniques or habits that you
(29:04) - How to journal
(29:44) - Trauma-informed approach
(30:55) - Relational Therapy
(31:57) - Q&A from the Cittababes Community
(34:12) - Karencitta's journey with Gestalt Wellness Institute
(34:55) - Where is the Clinic?
(36:16) - Personal definition of Emotional Resilience
(36:46) - The Healing Playlist
Listen to the full podcast:
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