Marilyn Cahatol

Sen. Robinhood Padilla attends the  Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing  on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 23, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL ANOMALIES

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Kabataan Party-list and youth organizations on Sunday said Sen. Robin Padilla’s statement downplaying depression and describing the youth as &quot;weak,&quot; was “irresponsible and unscientific,” stressing that the rising cases of mental health problems among youth are a public concern. </p><p>&quot;We, concerned youth organizations and individuals, raise alarm over irresponsible, and unscientific comments made by a public official villifying the Filipino youth as &#x27;weak&#x27; given rising cases of mental health problems among the youth,&quot; they said. </p><p>At the Senate hearing on the Children&#x27;s Safety in Social Media Act on Wednesday, Padilla called the youth “weak,” and said the term &quot;depression&quot; was not common during his younger years.</p><p>Citing Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Padilla said at least seven students have taken their own lives due to cyberbullying. </p><p>In a statement signed by over 30 formations including student councils, youth organizations, mental health advocates and concerned university offices, they said the number &quot;actually prove[s] that mental health problems are a public concern that should be urgently addressed through public policy&quot; and not a matter of individual character. </p><p>They underscored that Padilla’s comments “not only deny any policy responsibility but also shame individuals facing mental health struggles from seeking help from their family and community.”</p><p>The statement said the senator’s remarks advance “deeply rooted prejudices against the sensitivity of younger Filipinos” to mental health and other social problems.</p><p>“It reveals how our officials can be allergic to new and critical observations of social issues especially when it runs counter to traditionally accepted norms and the status quo as a whole,” they said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/12/makabayan-lawmakers-call-out-padilla-totoo-ang-mental-health-crisis-1051">Lawmakers call out Padilla&#x27;s &#x27;weak&#x27; youth remark: &#x27;Totoo ang mental health crisis&#x27;</a></div><p>The groups called on the current administration to recognize the existence of a mental health crisis and adopt alternative frameworks and solutions presented by advocates.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE PROBE SOUGHT</strong></div><p>They urged the House of Representatives to adopt House Resolution No. 559, which calls for a probe in aid of legislation on the supposed shortcomings of the Mental Health Act and national policies addressing the mental health crisis. </p><p>They also called for better funding for comprehensive, accessible and quality mental health services for the people and corresponding efforts for mental health education.</p><p>The World Health Organization, in 2025, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health">reported </a>that one in seven 10 to 19-year-old individuals globally experiences mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders. </p><p>It said suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 29 years old. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/19/kabataan-solon-rejects-weak-label-on-youth-0047">Kabataan solon rejects ‘weak’ label on youth</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NmecXlK4O-E?si=_EQYRJWYg-2TSKPE" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Kabataan Party-list and youth organizations said Sen. Robin Padilla’s statement downplaying depression and describing the youth as "weak," was “irresponsible and unscientific,” stressing that the rising cases of mental health problems among youth are a public concern.</p>

The Kabataan Party-list and youth organizations said Sen. Robin Padilla’s statement downplaying depression and describing the youth as "weak," was “irresponsible and unscientific,” stressing that the rising cases of mental health problems among youth are a public concern.

‘Irresponsible, unscientific’: Kabataan, youth groups flag Robin Padilla’s remarks on mental health

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‘Irresponsible, unscientific’: Kabataan, youth groups flag Robin Padilla’s remarks on mental health

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 22, 2026 03:33 PM PHT

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Robin Padilla

mental health

youth

Senate

Kabataan party-list

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