MANILA, Philippines — Television host Kim Atienza has gently pushed back against Senator Robin Padilla’s characterization of today’s children as “weak,” calling for empathy as the country grapples with a rise in youth mental health struggles and suicide cases.
The exchange began after Senator Padilla, during a February 11 Senate hearing on the Children’s Safety in Social Media Act, remarked that depression was not a common term in his generation and described the current youth as “weak.”
Kuya Kim’s Message of Support In an Instagram post on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Atienza—popularly known as “Kuya Kim”—shared a video of Padilla’s remarks but accompanied it with a call for compassion rather than criticism.
- The Need for Help: “While views may differ on how depression is understood across generations, one thing is clear: support should always be available,” Atienza wrote.
- Actionable Resources: He provided a list of 24/7 crisis hotlines, emphasizing that “whether or not the word was used before, the need for help is real for many today.”
- Personal Context: Atienza’s response carries significant weight; his youngest daughter, Emman, passed away last year at age 19. While he has not disclosed the specific cause of her death, he has been vocal about her history with depression and self-harm, dedicating much of his recent public work to mental health advocacy in her honor.
Padilla Defends His Stance Senator Padilla stood by his “weak” assessment, arguing that it was based on data rather than a personal whim.
- The Statistics: He cited a 2021 survey showing that nearly 20 percent of Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 have contemplated suicide.
- Call to Action: Padilla dismissed the backlash against his choice of words, stating, “If you want to help address this issue… do something about it and stop talking about me. Act on the data, not on my statement.”
Rising Mental Health Concerns The debate highlights a growing generational divide in how mental health is discussed in the Philippines. While the Senator views the data as evidence of declining resilience, mental health advocates and figures like Atienza argue that the same data underscores a critical need for expanded support systems and de-stigmatized conversations.
Atienza’s advocacy continues to focus on the importance of professional help and familial support, using his platform to bridge the gap between generational perspectives and the urgent reality of the current mental health crisis among Filipino youth.