Filipino mental health is often regarded as a taboo. Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are deemed on the same level as “laziness” or “overacting”. While mental health illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are related to non-religiosity or over-religiosity. When it comes to mental health, most Filipinos are quiet about it.
But the numbers don’t lie. In 2015 alone, at least 3 million Filipinos are suffering from depressive symptoms. Before the pandemic, there were at least 80 calls per day ringing to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) hotline. The third most common disability in the country is no other than mental illness. In this blog, we’re going to deep-dive into Filipino mental health and what you can do about it.
How to Boost Filipino Mental Health for Beginners
In a country where locals rely on superstitions and folklore, mental health awareness is a challenge to share. Filipinos are respectful of elders’ traditions, leading them to pass generational knowledge and deny new, scientific knowledge such as mental health interventions. Even Filipinos struggle with their mental health because of the pandemic, as COVID-19 has impacted them emotionally. So as a beginner, how do you share mental health awareness?
1. Ask them about their day
Your simple but powerful “kumusta ka?” or in English translation, “how are you?” can make someone feel that they are heard. If you’re going to introduce mental health to someone who has zero knowledge about it, the first thing to do is to start a conversation on how they’re feeling. You have to know what’s their situation.
2. Practice active listening and Empathy
Listening to people actively is when you take account of what they are saying and feeling, You should empathize with them. Whatever their answers to your question, do not judge or make unsolicited solutions. When you ask and they give a reply, listen first to what they have to say and tell them that “It must have been hard for you, but I’m here for you” or “You’ve done so well even in your struggles.” The key to sharing mental health is to care for people you’re sharing the topic with.
3. Ask them if it’s alright to share your thoughts
When someone is venting out their problem to you, they may want to be listened to. This means that they want to be the ones to do the sharing. To avoid cutting off the conversation about themselves, ask them if it’s okay that you share your opinions. Ask permission whether the answer will be yes or no. This is because some people just need a listening ear rather than a solution-giver. If they allow you to give your opinions, then share your opinion with love. Do not condemn them if you think they’re making a mistake that is why they’re in their situation. The goal is to help them, not condemn them. If they tell you that they want to be the only one to do the talking, let them talk until they’re finished. People at this stage just want to rant about their problems, and they need you to listen.
4. Talk about basic mental health coping strategies
If the person you’re conversing with gives the go-signal that you could share your thoughts, then go talk about mental health. You don’t have to go commenting on what he/she or what other people did wrong based on their stories. When you give your opinions, you could share healthy ways to cope with the situation they’re going through. For instance, if the person you’re talking to seems to get sad most of the time at home, you could share ways on how to brighten your mood inside the house. This can be a movie marathon, blasting your favorite music on the speakers, cooking a delicious meal, and many more.
5. Check on them often
After they share their struggles, you should be there for them. You may not give the exact solution, but they will appreciate it if you regularly show up to check on how they are doing. Tell them that you care for them that’s why you’re asking them how they are. You can also invite them to weekly meet-ups or zoom calls to uplift their moods. There is an urgency to do this because they’re experiencing distress and your constant check-up on them will destress them. Do this often, and you will boost Filipino mental health.
6. Tag them on social media
You may not know it but social media has the power to brighten up someone’s day. You can tag or mention them on funny memes, inspiring quotes, amazing DIYs, informative mental-health-related Tiktok videos, and much more content. Be sure that it’s something not triggering because you should always come from a place of help. Encourage them to follow heartwarming or mental health support social media pages such as M Psych Services.
7. Talk to them about mental health professionals
Take note that when you’re talking about mental health professionals, you should sound genuine in sharing what mental health professionals do. For instance, when you’re talking about the role of a therapist, you’re going to talk about mainly what a therapist does in therapy and how can it benefit them. You should not sell their services by saying “you should go into therapy” but rather, let them make the decision. Enlightening them about what mental health professionals do can spark their interest.
You can be a mental health advocate
These are basic beginner-friendly ways to get people to open up about mental health. Be reminded that in the Philippines, mental health awareness is still striving to get heard. Sure, some people may have heard about it, but haven’t put their trust in it. Whatever their reasons are, keep pushing towards the goal.
If you like to be part of something bigger than yourself in the name of Filipino mental health, you can begin checking out our social media accounts. For professional personal and workplace mental health, check out our services.