YOUR TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED

Be careful to those people who will hurt you but will act as if you hurt them. Don't mind them. They don't deserve your attention anymore. People don't need your explanation because 'the truth' will come to light eventually.

Truth will always prevail and it's ostensively seen in various ways such as attitude, character, actions, and quality of relationships. You can't simply bend the truth by putting an embellishment on it. The stench of it will still come out.

I hope the world is just and fair. May you receive blessings you genuinely deserve from the Universe. 🙂

APPRECIATION POST: CELEBRATE YOUR SMALL PROGRESS!

Everyone deserves a pat on their back regardless if they have honors, high honors, or without any embellishments after their names. We are all different but equally essential in our own beautiful ways. We learn differently. Some may take time, and some are quick. Some loves to read out loud their reviewers and some are quiet. We are all different learners.

Though we always aim for excellence, let's not forget those people who always tried their best and learned from their failures! You will never achieve excellence when you have a rotten character, low conscientiousness with your performance, and rigid mindset as if you are the best among others. Let's stop comparing ourselves from one another. Let's stop this hypercompetitive culture because it's destructive for some people!

School is awesome if rote learning is deemphasize and comparison among students aren't centered. School is not a place to create anxious and hypercompetitive individuals. Okay? (Magagalit si Mareng Horney).

Let's create a community where we celebrate even small improvements of learners and an inclusive community to all types of learners! School isn't a place solely to get high grades but a place to reflect on who you want to be, to find your passion, and to value learning. Nagiging nakakatakot na ang school kasi na-instill dito yung perfection eh. Kaya natatakot na magkamali tayo.

Give your best but please don't be too harsh on yourself. Okay? Value your improvements and mental health.

Kung maging topnotcher ka sa #BLEPP2018, bonus na yun pero please mas alagaan mo sarili mo. 💖

IMPORTANT GIFT UNLOCKED

I guess I unlocked an important lesson for my birthday. "Happy" in every birthday is something that we've all been looking for but we're just too busy to notice. We're easily distracted by other things which, in fact, are only temporary.

"Happiness" is something we pursue without any other reason same with love, meaning, hope, resilience, and strength. We just simply want to have all these.

I hope you genuinely find yourself and all these "ends in themselves".

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

...it is life that asks us what meaning we give to our existence. We can respond to life by being responsible. We accept our responsibility when we accept the categorical imperative: "So live as you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now" (Frankl, 1963). Facing each moment with such acute awareness and with such responsibility enables us to find the meaning of life unique to us at this singular moment in our life.

Excerpt from Existential Therapy (Prochaska & Norcross, 2010) 💖
#WakeUpWarrior #Existentialism

The Greatest Showman

Image Source

I watched the life of PT Barnum entitled "The Greatest Showman" starring Hugh Jackman. I felt sad about his background but I admired his perseverance to continue what's considered "freak show" during his time. It takes courage to do that.

He embraced diversity by accepting different people and let them showcase their talents in his museum. He removed those people from the shadows. He inspired his people to accept what and who they really are.

If there's one take away, here it is:

There's nothing wrong with you. You are exquisite. Embrace your imperfections. ❤

LIVE MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION

The live discussion on mental health with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Ms. Kylie Versoza (Miss International 2016), Dr. June Lopez, and Dr. Gia Sison was successfully organized by Youth for Mental Health Coalition wherein representatives from various organizations participated. It was aired on the Facebook page of Sen. Risa Hontiveros (facebook.com/hontiverosrisa) yesterday, May 29, 2017, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Gia Sison. They started on sharing their sentiments about the rampant stigma in the Philippines such as may topak, sira ulo, it’s all in your head, baliw, etc. Ms. Kylie pointed out the common misconceptions and distinguished sadness from depression. On the other hand, Dr. Lopez mentioned that stigma is an issue that people are coming out for help. Most people are afraid to seek help lest others might label them as may sira or other negative impressions that devalue them.

Added to the stigma, the mental health services and research in the Philippines are marginalized. Thus, mental health bill was drafted along with rights-based approach/legislation. This bill ensures that Filipinos will gain access to mental health services, protects the rights and welfare of people with mental health needs, incorporation of mental health in school’s curriculum, modernization of facilities, cascading the information and services down to the barangays, and other important things that will definitely help the people in the community to become psychologically healthy which eventually lead to better life and better country.

Highlights

There is an increasing number of cases which can be construed as people are becoming more aware of the importance of mental health. (Dr. June Lopez)

Making mental health mainstream helps people validate that what they are experiencing is normal. They will be compelled to research on their problems and search for options to alleviate it. Ms. Kylie stated the purpose of the bill is to know about the sickness, to acknowledge it as a sickness, and to take certain steps to cure it or to deal with it. She shared her personal accounts on depression and briefly discuss her online support group, “Mental Health Matters,” wherein she and her sister are one of the admins of the group. (Ms. Kylie Versoza)

People should be wary in taking advice from people regarding their problems such as receiving “kaya mo yan” or “lilipas rin iyan.” Learn to recognize when to seek help. It is more important to seek help from mental health professionals. (Dr. June Lopez)

“Mentally disabled are probably the most vulnerable to abuses.” (Dr. June Lopez)

Suggested to try other alternatives that may help people alleviate stress and mental health condition such as yoga, meditation, reading self-help articles, self-affirmations, and others since it helped her recovered from depression. (Ms. Kylie Versoza)

The mental health professionals and other advocates are trying their best to make sure that service users are protected and free from all forms of inhumane and degrading treatment. (Dr. June Lopez)

Watch the message of Sen. Risa Hontiveros:

It's been two decades since the advocates started to fight for the rights of people to access mental health services. It's been a long fight and we still need to endure. We need to work hand-in-hand to make all these things turn into reality. Let’s show our support by signing the petition! Here’s the link:

Sign the petition

https://www.change.org/p/house-of-representatives-an-appeal-to-the-house-of-representatives-to-pass-the-philippines-first-mental-health-law?recruiter=724037297&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

Thank you, folks! Let's #EndtheStigma! Join us!

L-R: Dr. Gia Sison, Dr. June Lopez, Ms. Kylie Versoza, and Sen. Risa Hontiveros

Watch the full video of discussion here:

Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/hontiverosrisa/videos/10159005125095657/

Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/hontiverosrisa/videos/10159005199035657/

Like the pages of Mental Health Groups:

Youth for Mental Health Coalition

Link: https://www.facebook.com/YouthForMentalHealthCoalition/

Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response, Inc.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/BalikKalipayCenter/

Buhay Movement

Link: https://www.facebook.com/buhayph/

Mental Health PH

Link: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthphilippines/

Philippine Psychometrician Reviewer

Link: https://www.facebook.com/psychometricianreviewer/

RGO Psychology Review Center

Link: https://www.facebook.com/rgoblepp/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Mental Health Services directory consolidated by the volunteers of Mental Health PH

Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i7rBdD5HlGdt8D3wXNtcfrnphf1sncK8iFpxwXOdotg/edit

VISUAL CLIFF

I just saw a video wherein the kid was petrified by fear, unable to cross a transparent glass for he believed that it was a danger to him. Of course, his parents documented the incident before reaching out to a kid. (very usual phenomena these days that I think will make our race extinct, kidding)

The idea of depth perception of the kid amazes me. It actually reminds me of the visual cliff study of Gibson and Walk when they tested the depth perception of human infants (babies who just learned to crawl). They found out that adjusting the visual cliff as deep made the crawlers hesitate to crawl on a plexiglass toward their parents. It's amazing!

What makes this study amazing?
Imagine that 6 to 14 months old infants were never taught about the depth perception. They just knew that it's dangerous to cross a simulated cliff (believing it was an actual cliff).

Hence, the idea of inherent knowledge was somehow validated.  But I want to make it clear, nature and nurture are both vital. It works hand in hand.

Posted via Blogaway

Idea from Dan McAdams

YES TO HEALTHY DISCUSSION!

"13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher is controversial. People have different opinions on his book and the Netflix series. It create debates online.  

As one of the admins of Philippine Psychometrician Reviewer page, I think there's a need for me to speak up and share my thoughts on our page. So here's my comment:

I am finished with the series. It's pessimistic but I viewed it in a different way. It's an eye-opener. For some people, there are few things that you need to consider before watching it. *see warning posts and reviews*

As mental health advocates, our goal is to create an awareness about mental health. We can shed light on the negative consequences and impact of suicide, and how to deal with it. We are here to help the viewers interpret the series in a positive way.

Let us create a community that promotes healthy discussion instead of arguments that can lead to factions. Let us help one another.

We are all under one umbrella. We are all psych majors and mental health advocates. I believe, we need to stick to our goal, to increase the productivity and well-being of people. We need to create a huge safe space for all people regardless of their sex, gender, race, religion, and cultural background. We need to unite to make this world a better place for all...at least in our little way.