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Kapuso actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith showed how wise she is beyond her years by sharing her personal battles with anxiety and depression during her talk for “You, Me, Empathy”--a seminar held to encourage young leaders to develop empathy and mental health awareness.

Jasmine Curtis

(From L-R) Jacqueline Kressner, Bettina Jose, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Dr. Ron Resurreccion

Jasmine shared how she dealt with anxiety and depression and how she coped with it.

“Over those few years that I was going through this [anxiety and depression] I was working less, I had a lot of personal commitments to my family that I was attending to, and I was also trying to figure out kung ano ba talaga ang gagawin ko sa buhay ko.”

She added, “I knew I was in this industry and I knew I could act and I could deliver…but I wasn't sure if I could handle everything that was part of it which was the showbiz, the chismis, the bashing…we are all prone to all of that but unfortunately our industry makes it harder to deal with it.

“I was busy empathizing for everyone else that I forgot to see what I needed. 'Di ko napansin na nahihirapan na pala ako, 'di ko na pala kaya.”

Jasmine knew then that she needed to seek out help for her struggles. While she tried to practice “thinking better thoughts, more positive and encouraging ones,” she also sought therapy from a professional and by reading self-help books.

Now, she's ready to open up and inspire people to be more proactive in dealing with their mental health struggles. She said, “It's good because I got to share wisdom about mga natutunan ko, from my own readings and counseling sessions, from my own therapists. So at least ngayon mas nagiging available na sa ibang tao.”

The 24-year-old Sahaya actress is now ready to empower other people who face the same battles. "'Yung mga tao na gusto talagang mag-improve, at pumupunta talaga sa mga ganitong seminar, gusto nilang mas ma-spread pa 'yung word. So magsa-start siya sa akin, tapos makukuha nila, at least masi-spread pa nila to their own community.”

She added, “Andun 'yung isip ko na it all starts with one person, kung kaya mong simulan 'yun, marami kang kayang matuturuan. I'm so privileged and happy na nagagawa ko 'yun.”