Mental Health In Philippine Society: A Social Perspective

Some may find it difficult to accept this statement, but it is a bitter truth that, although
addressed, persists as an unseen issue lying under our noses: Mental health is still a problem in
Philippine society at present. There may be some form of freedom now in the revelation of such
conditions, but even after implementing a law named after it to Congress, even after so much
mental health awareness posts have been shared over the net to inform the general public,
even after much reassurance from society that mental health should be treated just like any
other health problem there is, there remains a predicament still in certain areas of society.
Mental health is an issue that was once something that not one soul dared to speak of, almost
as if a forbidden word, and when one did, it was at one’s final moments before touching fingers
with death. Until today, there are, inevitably and unfortunately, still those who treat mental
health as a mere gag, a phase, or simply as a means to gain attention. We ponder upon this
subject so much yet never ask ourselves why. Why, indeed, is this the stimuli of society in
regards to mental health like this? What makes mental health such an insignificant topic to, if
not society in general, to certain groups? What has made society’s point of view on mental
health one that is toxic and an implicit danger when it has left one’s lips?
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The first point to consider is, one’s beliefs. The Philippines is known to have plenty of diverse
cultures, and with them, diverse beliefs. Beliefs have played a key role in many Filipinos’ lives
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from the past until present, shaping one’s behavior and influences actions. Because of this,
people's beliefs has often created misconceptions and have emitted unwelcoming reactions to
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issues such as mental health. For instance, one culture may identify mental health as
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paranormal activity, while another identifies it as a plague. According to a study done by

Antover Tuliao titled “Mental Health Help Seeking Among Filipinos: A Review of the Literature”,
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a main theme in the notion of physical or psychological illnesses involves occult beings such as
gods, deities, or people harnessing supernatural entities such as a mangkukulam (witches).
This states the unrelenting belief of Filipinos in entities such as spirits, witchcraft and sorcery,
and how treatment is not only limited to cultural ideologies, but as well as religion. The practices
done to repel such evil (referring to mental health) may also vary depending on these groups’
beliefs (e.g. treatment by combined prayers surrounding the victim, applying herbal medication
to area affected, thorough body massage, etc.). As for religion, it is thought that a mentally ill
individual received a curse brought by God as punishment for defying traditional values.
Whatever may be the case, however, it is not implied that these practices or beliefs necessarily
have a pessimistic impact upon mental health, but rather plays a role on the social stigma that is
given towards mental health. The second point to consider is the historical background. At this
point, the methods done to treat mental health have escalated from the traditional approach
towards a more technological one. The realization of mental health has existed way back to the
Spanish era and with each period comes a new method of addressing such. According to
research about the psychological evolution of mental health in Philippine history, the mentally ill
were taken to churches to be purified or exorcised. That, and they were also taken to faith
healers (albularyos) that will inflict upon them somatic or psychological distress to remove their
mental illnesses.

In the American occupation period, mental health surfaced furthermore and was beginning to be
acknowledged like any other sickness. Mental health was also beginning to receive more

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attention from society healthcare-wise than before and was acted upon by increasing the
number of hospitals catering to said illness. In the Japanese period, regrettably, psychiatric and
psychological development had been stopped, but there came another method to treat mental
health which is electro-convulsive therapy, a treatment method done using Japanese
technology. However, since this progression halt in the Japanese era, there has been no other
improvements stated in paper about the advancement of technology for psychiatric use. This is
where the importance of such mental unhealthiness has begun to be neglected in society simply
because the technological advancement of psychiatry has come to a stop, thus halting the
process of completely curing the mentally ill. As years went by, mental health’s significance had
been overlooked and understated by Philippine society, with the Filipino people instinctively
labeling and generalizing the mentally ill as simply baliw (or crazy). This mindset had spread
across the country generation after generation, and soon enough, mental health had brought
about shame (or hiya) and improper decorum to one that would admit such mental sickness to
his/her family, thereby creating what we call today as the social stigma.

The next and final point to consider is the notoriety and prevalence of mental health. In relation
to the information stated above, it is already noted that there have already been cases of mental
health issues in the Spanish period in the Philippines, but only a number few. These cases later
spiked in rate when the American era had come around, the same period where mental health
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hospitals have expanded into other regions of the Philippines. Back then, these patients were –
if still in possession of the ability to think cognitively – willing to receive help from the medical
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institutions that offered them treatment. But likewise what is stated above in regards to the
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event of the sudden halt of progression on mental health, the importance of mental health has
been reduced decade by decade to a generalized idea that synthesizes depression, anxiety,
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and phobias with hysteria and psychosis, or simply to say, referred to as baliw or sira-ulo, and to
those who are too afraid to reveal such conditions, referred to as mahiyain (shyness) o
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papansin (attention seeker). The notoriety of mental health may also stem from some parts of
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society remaining uneducated of the subject at hand, and when the communicated information
is false or lacking public evidence, a stereotype is formed and the misinformation is spread,
therefore causing a negative social feedback. Its prevalence, on the other hand, is measured by
statistics. In a mental health report of the Philippines in 2016, it is reported that there is about
10-15 percent of adolescents are suffering from mental health problems and 20 percent of
adults that are suffering from mental health issues. This piece of data showcases that all ages
can be mentally ill and still remain quiet to prevent judgment from society. More so, if these
problems persist in the young, it is sure to give them a poor growth experience and at its worst,
early suicide. And when death has occurred to these poor souls, we ask: Why have they done
this? Why did they throw their life away when it was perfect? Where did they get the nerve to do
such a thing? Since when had they been suffering? We ask these questions to ourselves over
and over yet never knew the things that happened behind their masks. Their facades. We do
not know. We do not know and we never did know.

Going back to the statement first stated, mental health is still a problem in Philippine society at
present because of three factors: a person’s beliefs, its historical background and its notoriety
and prevalence. Although mental health has been lurking in the shadows of society for as long
as we know it, society today is more aware and educated about mental health and its perks,
and no longer something meant to be taken lightly through witticism. Mental health services
have been provided duly to those who need it and are carried out comprehensively to ensure
the patient’s healing. This is a sign of growth, a growth that will make Philippine society an
open community to those who feel unwanted, unloved, suppressed or abused. A sanctuary for
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 all who are unwell, be it physically or mentally. One fact that should stick out into our minds is
that if a sickly heart, liver and stomach are organs that is given their rightful treatments and a
brain is an organ as well, then that means that the brain may potentially be sickly as well just
like its kin and should be treated as such. Murder does not only happen physically but mentally
as well and it makes the agony no less painful than the one that is visibly seen, so it is vital that
society be educated of mental health awareness in order to shoot the invisible killer that rests
those it has victimized, to put a stop to the hushed deaths of our kith and kin, and to face our
inner darkness not alone, but together.

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