WATCH: He nearly gave up college. Now he's a summa cum laude graduate on a mission

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zyrus Vander Rico went through a mental health crisis that prompted his family to rush him to the hospital.

With the emergency room already overwhelmed, the hospital sent him home. This experience, he said, strengthened his passion to advocate for better mental health care in the Philippines.

Five years later, Zyrus graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman, earning his Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree as a summa cum laude.

If you think you, your friend, or your family member is considering self-harm or suicide, 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.