TV personality Kuya Kim Atienza on Thursday responded to comments made by Robin Padilla, who described today’s youth as 'weak' and said that the word ‘depression’ was supposedly not common back then.

“A little kindness (and understanding) goes a long way,” Atienza said in a Facebook post.

During a Senate hearing on February 11 regarding the proposed Children’s Safety in Social Media Act, Padilla remarked that depression was not commonly discussed in his generation and implied that social media has made the current generation more fragile.

“Maraming mga bata nang magagalit siguro, pero pasensya na kayo, you are weak. Hindi kayo, katulad noong panahon namin na hindi kami iyakin,” Padilla said.

“Ang henerasyon ko, hindi naging weak, at hindi naging sikat ang salitang depression dahil wala pang social media,” he added.

Padilla also referenced the tragic passing of Kuya Kim’s youngest daughter, Emman Atienza, 19, on October 24, 2025, suggesting it was connected to the negative effects of social media.

Responding to these remarks, Atienza commented and emphasized, “It is not that simple, Mr. Senator. It is not that simple.”

“While views may differ on how depression is understood across generations, one thing is clear: support should always be available. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 24/7 crisis hotlines, because whether or not the word was used before, the need for help is real for many today,“ Atienza added.

The incident sparked widespread discussion online, as many felt that dismissing mental health challenges as a generational weakness oversimplifies a complex issue.