Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of anxiety and depression.
Former Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo has candidly shared a deeply personal chapter of her life, revealing her ongoing battle with mental health challenges.
In a heartfelt Facebook post published on Friday, January 16, 2026, the beauty queen disclosed that she was diagnosed with depression with anxious distress, supported by a medical certificate dated January 7, 2025.
Rabiya recounted how the diagnosis led her to undergo several rounds of medication and ultimately pushed her to make a difficult decision: to leave the country for three months.
According to her, the move was necessary to protect herself from emotional triggers and to regain a sense of stability.
She described that period as a daily struggle, admitting that there were moments when simply surviving felt like an achievement. At her lowest point, she considered withdrawing entirely from public life to seek peace and quiet.
The beauty queen-turned-television host and actress also shared that the sudden death of social media influencer Emman Atienza became a turning point.
Witnessing the grief of Emman’s family, particularly broadcaster Kuya Kim Atienza, strengthened her resolve to continue fighting.
She said she promised herself not to give up, as she could not bear the thought of her own mother experiencing similar pain.
She ended her post with a powerful reminder about empathy, emphasizing that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on those struggling with depression.
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Rabiya is right—it wouldn’t diminish who we are if we chose to be kind to everyone, because we never truly know what others are going through.
There is also nothing wrong with being honest about what you are going through right now, and even more so, there is nothing wrong with asking for help, even professional help.
We hope that Rabiya will overcome and get through what she is facing right now.
