Mental health is not a joke. It is part of our general well-being.

It should not be taken lightly

and should also be given utmost importance as we give to our physical health. They come hand in
hand. A sound body is a sound mind and vice versa.

According to Our Better World (2019), in their article Mental health in Asia: The numbers, in
the Philippines, 3.3 million Filipinos live with depressive disorders, with suicides rates of 2.5 males
and 1.7 females per 100,000 persons, according to the Department of Health. The World Health
Organization (WHO) also reported over 2,000 cases of suicide from 2000 to 2012, most of which
involved people aged 15 to 29 years old. These numbers are alarming. The stigma on mental health
in this country should be addressed immediately.

Unfortunately, in a news article by CNN published last 2017, it has been said that the
considerable lack of public health and policy infrastructure to deal with the increasing need for
mental illness treatment, most Filipinos are left to their own devices instead of seeking professional
help. Admittedly, a trip to the psychiatrist or to the therapist, including medication, can set one back
up to several thousands of pesos.

Since the problem with this is deeply rooted, its solution should start by educating people.
The people being equipped with necessary information and awareness will enable a population who
are conscious and sensitive with regards this matter. As a result, people will have to look into
themselves and be able to regulate their own thoughts and actions.

It starts with mindfulness. Mindfulness mean being present in the moment and being aware
of your surroundings and how you feel. When we are mindful, our minds become more focused on
what is happening around us. One takeaway from the webinar is that mindfulness training requires
both formal and informal contemplation exercises. Formal practice is one which has dedicated
practice periods and informal practice is one which is practiced in daily life. According to the
resource speaker, different usage intensities and techniques have different outcomes as well.
Practice in the daily life is the most common and progress of its practice is uncorrelated but once this
has been practiced religiously, it will have favorable results over time.

Formal mindfulness being religiously practiced will definitely reap better benefits. According
to the resource speaker, when this is practiced habitually, symptoms improve, depression reduces,
better stress handling, and notable reduction of anxiety symptoms. However, practicing these also
requires optimal support for this to be developed properly. Too much support and there will be less
opportunity to learn. Too much challenge and it will make it hard to learn new things. This is what
we call scaffolding and it must also be properly balanced in order for us to obtain optimal benefits.
 Mindfulness being the subject matter, one very important field under it is managing one’s
emotion. Managing emotions effectively is somewhat producing a skill or habit. Furthermore,
dealing with them effectively is the start witch coping with them effectively. Describing our emotions
are what we call labeling. And sometimes the label that we pin to them is not the most accurate.
Describing, accepting, and managing our emotions- both confident and negative- is a crucial work for
a person’s general well-being

We must remember that tension and stressors are everywhere in our lives. They can affect
us physically, mentally, and emotionally: however, we must not ignore them. We must have better
emotional responses when faced with a stressful situation and it is as equally important to know
how to manage these emotions. Emotions left unchecked or unmanaged will not only affect our
bodies as what is previously mentioned but it will also affect our relationship with others as well.
Managing really difficult emotions and dealing with them effectively is great challenge for many
people. It can also be very challenging to manage the feelings of others as well. When we learn how
to manage and our emotions then we will be in a better position to utilize it. Learning how to control
emotions will be one of the best achievements in being mindful.

It can also be very challenging to manage the feelings of others. One way to deal with this is
to learn how to control your emotions as well so that you can also understand and empathize on
others. This means learning how to express yourself in a positive and constructive manner. This also
entails accepting situations that you cannot change and embrace them as they are. Negative
emotions such as anger and sadness are not at all bad. These are just normal responses to things we
cannot accept. However, it is how we handle them that matters. All of our feelings and emotions are
valid. We are definitely not robots that do not feel. There is more harm in keeping them bottled up.
Although it is hard to manage these at first but with formal practice of being mindful, then we can
most definitely handle these emotions effectively.

You cannot at all disregard our emotional wellbeing when we want to be generally healthy.
We are not supposed to juxtapose these. They are meant to come together so that we can achieve a
sound body and mind. Being able to understand and effectively handle these will be a game changer
when we want to change the alarming numbers of mental health status in our country.

It is just disheartening that although the Philippine Government has a law in place for mental
health, it still needs to be implanted and supported properly. With the considerable lack of public
health and policy infrastructure to deal with the increasing need for mental illness treatment, most
Filipinos are left to their own devices instead of seeking professional help. Changes in legislation can
only go so far in changing society's mental health attitudes. If the dialogue is contained within official
institutions, a win in the corridors of Congress may end up being empty and hollow. Conversations
should begin in families and other social groups where assistance is available. While the legislation
and medical therapy can help with treatment and rehabilitation, emancipation from the shadow of
stigma and discrimination should start with society's most fundamental units.

The Philippine Mental Health Act is a great start in recognizing that we also have this aspect
in our wellbeing that we also must focus on The Philippines has made significant efforts to improve
mental healthcare access and reduce stigma associated with mental illness. The Mental Health Act
was passed in 2018. This act declares mental health to be a fundamental right for all Filipinos, and it
strives to create a more balanced approach to mental healthcare by addressing needs in both
hospitals and communities. The act also aims to decrease prejudice against those with psychological
and psychiatric issues by removing the stigma associated with mental illness.

In addition, PMHA, which was founded in 1950, organizes mental health clubs in public and
private schools around the country. It also works to raise awareness about mental illness, provide
treatment and conduct research related to mental illness to continue expanding knowledge about
these issues. Areas of focus within the PMHA include the Educational, Advocacy and Research
Department, the Clinical and Diagnostic Services Department and the Intervention Services
Department, each with its own target audiences and goals.

The Philippines is seeing gradual gains in mental healthcare thanks to the PMHA and the
Mental Health Act, but there is still a long way to go. Many disadvantaged people throughout the
world lack access to affordable and accessible mental healthcare, but with advocacy, accessibility,
and educational initiatives in mental health, lives can be changed all around the world.