CPYC Agenda: How an Ambassador Fights Depression

Depression has become one of the serious issues the youth faces today. What is worse is when people who couldn’t take it ended up committing suicide.

Depression fighter, Zerge Jonino Pardo, won the ambassador title in the recently-concluded Cebu Province’s Pag-asa Youth Association of Philippines (PYAP).

Pardo, the 20-year old dashing gentleman from Alcoy town, stressed his advocacy for psychological resiliency by highlighting that a discerning heart will give a ray of hope to victims of this illness.

“I would like to encourage you that we should lend a listening ear to the victims (of depression) and as for the victims, just like me; I know you too can have this pag-asa, this hope,” Pardo said.

Depression, a major depressive disorder, is a common and serious medical illness that causes a negative effect on how a person feels, thinks, and acts.

Experts say that there are several risk factors for depression; among them is environmental factor which postulates a continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty that may cause some people more susceptible to depression.

On its April 2017 data, the Department of Health (DOH) quoted a World Health Organization (WHO) report that about 3,298,652 people in the Philippines are living with depression.

The DOH added that there are ongoing studies that attempt to reveal the possible link of social media to depression, quoting ‘cyber bullying’ and ‘online bashing’ as being the “new face of depression.”

The DOH said the existence of some people having difficulty to cope up with bashing prompts these studies to link social media use to depression.

Moving on from illness was never easy for Pardo that until now, he is still healing.

Stopping from school

Pardo used to contend for summa cum laude at the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies. To realize this achievement, he cross-enrolled at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Calamba and planned to finish at University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

However, when he went back to Cebu to shift to a different program, his plans were precipitously put to halt due to financial constraints.

The academic hiatus caused him to suffer depression. For months, he was just nestled inside his room, had an acne break-out of insomnia and even thought of ending his own life.

Clinical study shows that depression causes feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can also lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems that can decrease a person’s ability to function at home and at work.

“I felt so down. I felt disappointed to myself and I felt I disappointed my family,” Pardo said as he recalled the downcast of his times.

Spiritual connection

Being in school helped Pardo to keep out from misery, since academe became an avenue for him to meet new people.

Schooling, according to Pardo, helped him gain back his self-esteem.

He added that his faith in God made him even stronger, he often visits the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to pray.

Cebu Provincial Youth Commission

Pardo supports the call of the Provincial Youth Commission (PYC) who actively pushed for the responsible use of social media since this has been among the leading contributors of depression.

Winning the Province’s PYAP title inspired him to continue the legacy of PYAP by spreading social causes like depression awareness.

Pardo actively involved himself in PYAP activities, encouraging his fellow youths to post positivity on social media.

Words of encouragement about life could enlighten them, he said.

“They said that you should fish where the fish are. Youths who are depressed are usually away from society, they mostly go to social media sites,” he explained.

The DOH crisis hotline reported that there are 496 inquiries on depression and 479 possible depression cases.

“Even if they are experiencing difficulties, even if they think that they don’t suit to the standard of society and even if lots of people don’t believe in them; keep having positive mindset that we can hurdle all things and we can solve any problems in life,” Pardo said.

Pardo became a PYAP member since June of this year. He is active in school-based organizations and is the Cantor of the Psalm in Holy Cross Parish in Basak Pardo, Cebu City.

As PYAP Ambassador, he gives high priority on youth involvement activities. He gives talks on how to overcome depression and how to lead a positive life.

cebu.gov.ph