Kim Atienza's daughter Emman opens up about mental health, taking medication, and starting her own organization
Emmanuelle Atienza, daughter of broadcaster Kim Atienza, has opened up on social media about her mental health challenges as well as the progress she has attained and the help she will now extend to others who may be in a similar journey.
In an Instagram post, the 16-year-old said she was a "smart, sociable, and athletic" child, before certain life experiences affected her mental health.
"My friendships became unstable, I lost focus, and I lost motivation and passion," she wrote. "With no source of support or professional help, I was helpless."
She then shared that after a failed attempt at her life in 2019, she was misdiagnosed with depression. After the initial diagnosis, Emman was prescribed with medication that did not help with her struggles.
Earlier this 2022, she then received a second psychiatric opinion and was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPDS) with paranoid and borderline features after a thorough evaluation.
We need to get rid of the words 'crazy' or 'deranged' from being associated to mental illness. I am a person.
"Along with that, I received an additional diagnosis from my psychiatrist who revealed that I had CPTSD along with bipolar disorder and ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder]," she continued.
"After this in-depth diagnosis, I was finally able to get the proper medication and professional help I needed."
The teenager shared that she is now properly medicated and the "painful chapter" of her life has ended.
"Though I am not healed from past experiences from mental illness, I finally feel as if the past is behind me," she said, citing that she can now focus on school, her stable friendships, and her newfound passions of modeling, photography, and being a content creator.
"Mental health shouldn't be stigmatized," Emman said, "We need to get rid of the words 'crazy' or 'deranged' from being associated to mental illness. I am a person. The same as the next."
With her advocacy and experiences in place, Emman is set to launch Mentality Manila, a mental health organization aiming to "spread awareness, take action, and remove the stigma associated with mental health."
The model's comments section was soon flooded with words of support and love. Kim Atienza himself reshared his daughter's post on Instagram.
"It took a lot of courage for you to post this. You are making your papa cry. I love you soooo much. Mama and papa are here for you ALL THE TIME. Tight tight hug dear daughter," the television host wrote. His youngest daughter promptly commented: "Love you so much, Papa"
Kim and his wife, Felicia Hung Atienza, share three children: Jose III, Eliana, and Emman.
If you need to talk regarding mental health, you may call the National Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide, landline toll-free), 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-USAP (8727) for Globe/TM users, or 0908-639-2672 for Smart users
