ASSESSMENT: GROUP CAMACHO-IGNACIO (SALCEDO)
“Unspeakable Mental Health of INNHS Grade 12 Students within their Families:
A Qualitative Research”
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM RATIONALE
Introduction
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It
affects how people think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how people handle
stress, how they relate to others, and how they make choices. Mental health is
important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
For years, the topic mental health has been a huge in the Philippines, specifically, in
Filipino families. It is shameful to admit that one needs the help of a psychologist or
even a psychiatrist. It has been the subject of jokes more than of a serious debate
(Wyrwas 2018). Depression and anxiety are the most common types of mental
disorders, and comorbidity is also very common with there two disorders. Many
individuals with anxiety also have depression and vice versa. The two disorders have
been found to be more prevalent among students than the general population
(American College Health Association, 2013; Beiter, Nash, McCrady, Rhoades,
Linscomb, Clarahan, & Sammut 2015; Holliday, Anderson, Williams, Bird, Matloc,
Ali, & Suris, 2016). Students feel fear when first recognizing a mental health issue
within themselves, as they might not be able to figure out where it came from.
Students who previously felt nervous during public speaking but suddenly experience
overwhelming panic understandably struggle to figure out what changed. Factors such
as significant life changes, politics, family, academic pressure, relationship issuess,
and money can all contribute to changes in mental health (MSW, Jakubanis, LeVine
ND). Filipinos may be conceptualizing mental illness and psychological distress
differently from the mainstream medical model. Beliefs about the aetiology of
illnesses areinfluenced by cultural beliefs regarding spirits and humoral changes,
which could subsequently influence Filipinos to seek treatment with traditional and
folk healers whose modality of treatment is concordant with their beliefs. (Mental
health help seeking among Filipinos (Tuliao 2014).
Background of The Study
An assessment of the Philippine mental health system reported a 16% prevalence
of mental disorders among children (WHO, 2007). In addition, the latest Global
School-based Student Health Survey found that 16.8% of students ages 13 to 17
attempted suicide one or more times during the 12 months before the survey(WHO,
2019). Many mental health problems emerged before the age of 18 with the period
from 18 to 25 being a particularly susceptible developmental time in a person’s life.
While mental health problems are highly prevalent and persistent, research has shown
that many students who meet the criteria for a disorder do not receive treatment
(McLafferty, 2017). According to Smit (2015), similar results suggesting that mental
health problems among students relate to study progress, since students feel limited in
their daily activities ad experience feelings of stress that cause their study results ot
decline. During their later adolescent years, college students spend most of their time
in schools and frequently interact with peers, classmates, and teachers. Their ability to
socially integrate with the entities in the academe influences the state of their mental
health problems in students are common, there are still barriers in seeking help: the
costs of health care; the stigma the students are feeling; and the difficulty in talking
about their mental health problems to their families. Thus, this study on the
unspeakable mental health of INNHS grade 12 students within their families is
beneficial and of importance.
Statement of The Problem
Generally this study aimed to determine why families of Ilocos Norte National
High School (INNHS) grade 12 students don’t speak about their mental health:
Specifically, it answered the following:
1. Is discussing about ones mental health not normal within a family?;
2. Is the relationship within a family affect the unspoken issue about mental health?;
3. Is not speaking about mental health affect the lifestyle of a grade 12 INNHS
student?;
Scope and Delimitation
The study is designed to have a thorough knowledge about and focused on the
whys of mental health being unspoken or unspeakable in the families of Ilocos Norte
National High School (INNHS) Grade 12 Students and its effects not only on the
students, but in the whole family and their relationship towards one another.
Due to technology-based survey, it is expected that not everyone in the family is
capable of answering. The researchers then limited the respondents. The selection was
reduced from the whole family to students and a representative of a parent or a
guardian.
Significance of the Study
Teachers. This study will guide them to improve their motivational and teaching
techniques or method and skills in open forum to students who really need their
guidance.
Parents. For them to be aware on the real situation of their child regarding mental
health. It will give them a int on how they encourage their child to be more open on
those situations.
Students. This study will provide information that will raise the awareness of
each student regarding mental health. This study will also make the students assess
themselves and others to be able to recognize those who are suffering from mental
health. Making them take action and be able to recognize those who are suffering from
mental health. Making them to take actions and be able to help the victims to cope
from suffering. Future researchers. This study will help the future researchers to
provide more information and will serve as a basis to get better view of topic.
