Woman wants to help victims of depression

AFTER experiencing depression at an early age, 19-year-old Philo Laulama from Central is passionate about encouraging victims of depression to change their lives through a church programme.
Laulama is a member of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Port Moresby that provides a social and victory youth group programme to give people hope and spiritual support.
“I am happy to work with church members to provide spiritual support, evangelise and help others overcome their problems through the victory programme,” she said.
Laulama was 13 in 2014 when she started drinking and going out with friends to cope with depression.
She developed depression through the lack of attention and negative treatment by her family.
“My depression started when my family responded negatively towards me and let me down most times,” Laulama said.
“I thought I was hopeless so I got depressed and tried to kill myself.”
She stopped talking to her mother and everyone in the house between 2014 and 2019.
She was also an asthmatic patient and she spent most of her time at home.
When she was in grade 7 in 2019, she attempted to kill herself but her grandfather intervened and saved her.
“The programme helps me to be open and to help others recover from what I was like before,” Laulama said.
“I overcame all negative thoughts and feelings.”