What Emman's death teaches us

Mental health is a great equaliser. It is one battle which defeats fame, wealth, success. Will we finally do something?

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan

Let's be clear: mental health doesn't check your last name before it enters a room. It doesn't pause because your father is a television personality, your grandfather a politician, or your future seemingly golden. It is the great equaliser — silent, relentless, and unmoved by privilege.

The death of 19-year-old Emmanuelle “Emman” Atienza — a young woman born into influence, educated in elite institutions, and open about her own struggles — is no longer just a personal tragedy. It is a national wake-up call.

AWARENESS IS NOT IMMUNITY

Emman didn't necessarily fit the convenient narrative of someone “at risk.” She was surrounded by family, resources, therapy, even advocacy networks. She wasn't hiding her mental health battles; she was vocal, articulate, and actively trying to help others. She founded Mentality Manila, a youth movement for mental health awareness. She was studying in Los Angeles, pursuing art and design. And yet, she still lost her life to suicide.

Because awareness is not immunity. Access is not cure. Visibility is not safety. Mental illness does not negotiate — not with class, not with fame, not with family background.

But here's the reality: We like to applaud people who “raise awareness,” but what we often do is outsource emotional labour to them.