Commonly called as baby blues, postpartum depression is a mental health issue that affects millions of women. As prevalent and severe this condition is, it is unfortunate PPD has stayed under the radar of many people. So Meranie Gadiana Rahman has made it her mission to raise awareness about this complex mix of emotional, behavioral, and physical changes that happen to some women after giving birth.
A pageant titleholder, Filipina Meranie Gadiana Rahman is her country’s representative to the upcoming Mrs. World. Scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka on November 12 to 21, 2020, Ms. World is a prestigious competition created in 1984 by David and Elaine Marmel. As a platform where delegates from around the world come together to share a common purpose, it is a place for all married women, including mothers, young wives, and even grandmothers, to foster friendship and promote mutual understanding.
As the reigning Mrs. Philippines World, Meranie Gadiana Rahman will compete for the crown hand in hand with her essential advocacy. Born in the Philippines, this mental health advocate has a degree in hotel and restaurant management and tourism. She is currently happily married to an emergency room physician and internist and finds joy raising their three-year-old son.
When this beauty queen gave birth, she did not expect to be one of the suffering mothers who experience PPD after delivery. And it was her journey with this form of major depression that inspired her to share her story in the hopes of saving the lives of millions of women all over the world.
Diagnosed with this particular form of major depression, Meranie Gadiana Rahman became a victim of the stigma that comes with mental disorders. She was on the receiving end of disregard with people brushing off her condition and telling her that PPD is an issue that could easily be solved if one tries hard enough to banish it from their thoughts.
Having people dismiss PPD as a mere state of mind sparked the establishment of her non-profit organization called You Are Loved Foundation. This humanitarian initiative, founded a year ago, serves as the channel for Meranie Gadian Rahman to educate and address misconceptions about postpartum depression.
Part of her efforts to open conversations about this condition involved talking about it on TV and meeting celebrities that could become new voices advocating for the well-being of mothers. Meranie Gadiana Rahman was invited to several interviews broadcasted on TV and radio in the Philippine cities of Manila and Cagayan de Oro, as well as in Honolulu. And one of the most prominent personalities that this advocate had the chance of conversing with is the renowned boxer and Filipino senator Manny Pacquiao.
Currently based in Hawaii, Meranie Gadiana Rahman frequently goes back to her home country to promote her cause and recently obtained the recognition of the Philippines’ House of Congress and Senate as well as of Hawaii’s State House of Representative for her philanthropic work and contributions in the field of women’s health.
This loving mother, dedicated wife, model, philanthropist, and national pageant titleholder will intensify efforts in raising awareness about PPD in the future. By being a spokesperson on behalf of women suffering from postpartum depression, she intends for this condition to receive the attention it needs.
Learn more about Meranie Gadiana Rahman by visiting her Facebook page and Instagram.
