This October is World Mental Health month!
As part of the Psychology community in the Philippines, I will be blogging the importance of Mental Health. This is an important issue in our country since several people still are not aware of its importance to our well-being.
Here is the photo from the page of Hon. Risa Hontiveros, one of the supporters of the Mental Health Act initiated by Philippine Psychiatric Association.
 |
| For those people who can't understand the comments from my fellow Filipinos, they are denying the fact that mental health issue is important. One of them emphasized that Filipinos are one of the happiest people in the world.
In the Philippines, the reckoned number of suicides in 2012 was 2,558 (550 female, 2009 male). It was reported in GMA Special report last year. In addition, World Health Organization and Department of Health reported that there are 7 Filipinos who commit suicide everyday. These numbers should not be ignored. Mental health problem is real.
One important observation of unawareness is when you suggest someone to visit a mental health expert or psychologist for that matter, and then you will be surprised by the response, “hindi ako baliw." (I am not insane)
It is evident that stigma exists in this country. Some people are afraid to visit mental health experts because of the stigma associated with it. Some also think that going to psychologists to talk out your problems is a sign of weakness because Filipinos are resilient and happy people.
"You are just sad. It will pass." This is just one of the lines that we often hear when we talk out our problems with other people.
We need to wake up and we need to accept its existence! We can save lives if we are just paying attention to this issue!
Just because
you cannot see it directly
means
it is not real.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment