When you read newspapers, there is good news and there is bad news. Most of those you read, however, are bad news because they sell. But once in a while, there is good news that needs to be read not just once but twice.
I learned that finally, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act was approved by the Senate on third and final reading recently. Davao Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reportedly “expressed his elation and support” for Senate Bill 379.
“This is not just a piece of legislation; it is a lifeline for our young learners in the face of a mental health crisis that cannot be ignored,” said Go, who initially filed and principally sponsored Senate Bill No. 2200 with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
“It is our moral and civic duty to respond with urgency and compassion. We must refuse to let another young life be lost due to untreated mental health issues,” said Go, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health.
Indeed, the approval of the bill is good news for pupils and students.
“Mental health is an integral component of holistic health,” Go explained. “When our young learners struggle with their mental well-being, it affects every part of their lives – their academic performance, their relationships, and their overall happiness.”
Although it makes up about two percent of a human’s body weight, the brain contains more than 100 billion neurons, each linked to as many as 10,000 other neurons. Now, if a portion goes haywire or deteriorates, a problem may arise in the form of a mental disorder.
“There are many different mental disorders, with different presentations,” the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) states. “They are generally characterized by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behavior and relationships with others.”
Mental disorders rank third among the types of disabilities in the Philippines. Young professionals have also become victims of mental health illnesses, as intentional self-harm is the ninth leading cause of death among those aged 20-24 years old. “Mental health and well-being are a concern of all,” says the Department of Health.
The US National Mental Health Association identifies the common types of mental illness as follows: affective disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, paranoid personality disorder, and avoidant disorder.
This is a kind of mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks or feels. Major life changes, stress, trauma, certain physical illnesses, and medicines can each result in an affective disorder. They strike anyone: male or female, young or old, and rich or poor. The symptoms may be quite severe. In most cases, they won’t go away on their own.
Affordability and stigma-related reasons were the top-ranked major barriers to accessing mental health care in the Philippines, according to a study done by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).
The above observation was reported by local mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) providers in a recently published study by the HHI’s HHI Resilient Communities program in cooperation with the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP).
A closer look at the findings of the study showed:
In the study, local MHPSS providers reported high financial costs of mental healthcare (40.0%) as the top barrier. The other top five barriers were stigma-related, such as feeling embarrassed or ashamed (35.9%), concern that they might be perceived as ‘crazy’ (31.0%) or weak (30.3%), and concern about family (23.4%) and other people’s reactions (22.1%).
However, most of the respondents (65.0%) perceived that barriers to access and treatment stigma have decreased since the advent of COVID-19. Most provider testimonials (62.6%) emphasized that the transition to teletherapy ensured care continuity. In some cases, switching to teletherapy allowed for the expansion of services and service areas.
“These study findings are promising in that they suggest that in the face of widespread challenges posed by pandemics or disasters there is a reduction in stigma related to seeking mental health care,” said Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino, Program Director of the HHI Resilient Communities.
“Further, greater accessibility to mental healthcare services through telehealth create opportunities for providing care for those that may not otherwise seek support because of distance, travel costs, or other similar barriers,” he added.
The majority of respondents (97.9%) perceived an increase in mental health concerns in the help-seeking population in the Philippines since the pandemic hit. Respondents observed an increase primarily in anxiety (97.9%) and depressive disorders (97.2%), followed by bipolar and related disorders (49.0%), trauma-related disorders (46.2%), and suicide risk behaviors (e.g., suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) (44.1%).
Increases in schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (24.8%), substance-related and addictive disorders (16.6%), and obsessive-compulsive-related disorders (13.1%) were less frequently reported.
Survey respondents recommended increasing training for mental health providers or staff (82.5%), more mental health service providers (75.5%), better internet connectivity (72%); more government funding for mental health (69.9%); and greater awareness-raising for services (66.4%) to better reach communities in need.
About 26.1% of respondent testimonials endorsed successes in increasing the availability of mental health services and increasing awareness of the importance of mental health through public and community education during the pandemic.
A total of 145 MHPSS providers participated in the survey. Psychiatrists (82.1%) comprised the majority, followed by psychologists (11.7%). Respondents provided mental health services in private practices (75.2%), public hospitals (44.1%), or private hospitals (39.3%) across various regions, including the National Capital Region/Metro Manila (56.6%).
