Elijah Canlas forms organization focused on mental health awareness in honor of late brother JM

Elijah Canlas has set up a non-profit organization focused on mental health awareness in honor of his late younger brother, JM. 

In Elijah's GMA Integrated News interview with Nelson Canlas, which aired on "24 Oras" Wednesday, the young actor shared about the meaning behind the organization's name. 

"I used to call JM, my brother, Kulit, kasi sobrang kulit po niya. Sobrang masayahin, sobrang palabiro, pilyo, lahat na, kaya Kulit 'yung nickname niya sa pamilya and close friends. Kaya 'yun nga eh, 'di ba, 'yung makukulit, you never know what they're really going through," he said. 

JM passed away in August 2023 at 17 years old. His cause of death was not named, but his family said that he struggled with his mental health.

According to Elijah, their advocacy at KULIT includes art therapy and sports therapy in honor of JM, who was a varsity player in badminton. 

"Dinadaan namin sa sports, through fundraisings, and sometimes makabuo ng enough funding para makapagbigay ng libreng therapy para sa mga adolescents. 'Yun po talaga 'yung focus namin. Syempre mga seminars for parents, para maging aware din sila sa kung paano ba i-handle 'to." 

Per Elijah, it is easy to be triggered by anything these days due to the accessibility of information and communication. 

He also encouraged others not to be afraid of opening up and seeking professional help for their mental health. 

"Lahat 'yan nasa in the palm of our hand. Kung kayo ay dumadaan dito, sana wag kayo matakot na mag-open up to your loved ones, to your friends, and maybe seek professional help kung hindi na talaga kaya. And if may kilala kayo na may pinagdadaanan, please be there for them. It's the least we could do," he said. 

Aside from his advocacy work, Elijah also has his hands full with his acting career. 

He currently stars in "KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie" alongside Sanya Lopez, Jillian Ward, Miguel Tanfelix, and more. 

In the film, he plays a Berbalang, a mythical creature from the Southern Philippines believed to feed on human and animal corpses. 

Elijah shared that the film is not just about horror, noting its social relevance for tackling important themes. 

"Hindi lang siya basta pananakot, may drama din siya and lalo sa 'Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie' may social relevance din siya. May mga timely themes kami na tina-tackle under the horror stories kaya madaming layers 'yung kinailangan naming paghandaan," he said. 

"I had a blast, especially dahil binigyan ako ng freedom to create what a Berbalang sounds like, 'di ba, what they look like, how they move," he added. 

Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, "KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie" features three separate horror stories inspired by real events, directed by filmmakers Yam Laranas, Dodo Dayao, and King Marc Baco. 

It is now showing in Philippine cinemas. 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News