While we Filipinos are known to be a happy, optimistic bunch, much like the rest of the world, we can suffer from debilitating mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder (previously called manic depression). Yet this is not a topic that is openly discussed, even within the family unit, either because they are not taken seriously or from the fear or being judged. The stigma of having a mental health issue has led to an array of problems – from the inability to work or study, to suicide.
If you don’t believe me, here are some statistics that prove it:
2,053: Cases of suicide in the Philippines in 2013
20-24: Age bracket with the highest number of suicide cases in 2013
342: Individuals aged 20-24 who committed suicide – 279 were males and 63 were females
The annual years of healthy life lost per 100,000 people from major depressive disorder in Philippines has increased by 10.3% since 1990, an average of 0.4% a year.
For men, the health burden of major depressive disorder in Philippines, as measured in years of healthy life lost per 100,000 men, peaks at age 40-44. It harms men at the lowest rate at age 1-4.
Women are harmed at the highest rate from major depressive disorder in Philippines at age 40-44. It was least harmful to women at age 1-4. At 972.8 years of healthy life lost per 100,000 women in 2013, the peak rate for women was higher than that of men, which was 423.6 per 100,000 men.
The Philippines is one of the last few countries without a mental health law, even as bills for it have been filed as early as 1989.
The Landscape of Philippine Mental Health
What’s truly disconcerting, is that even in 2017, the Philippines still has no mental health law, which would enhance mental health services, protect the rights of the mentally ill, require medical students to study mental health, and create a new national mental health council. In May of this year, the Senate passed the third and final reading Senate Bill No 1354 or the Mental Health Act of 2017, which would make mental health services affordable and accessible to Filipinos, but has remained pending in the House of Representatives since then.
In order address this problem, the Department of Health, together with the World Health Organization, and Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, launched Hopeline, a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, in observance of the National Suicide Prevention Awareness Day last year, the suicide hotline drew flak for alleged inaccessibility during peak hours, and reportedly stopped taking calls “after business hours.” It is also limited for now to answering calls and questions, and referring patients to mental health professionals.
Of the 3,479 calls received by the 24/7 crisis support hotline, 605 came from people who admitted to being depressed, while 496 people needed information on depression and suicide. Another 479 called because of stress or possible depression, while 111 people admitted being suicidal. – Katerina Francisco, Rappler
Adding to the problem is the lack of psychiatrists in the country, with the Philippines having only one psychiatrist for every 250,000 of the population, a far cry from the ideal ratio of one psychiatrist to 50,000 population.
Why I Want to Co-Create a Happier Philippines
Having battled with clinical depression myself, I understand the lack of support people suffering from mental illness have in the Philippines. It is because of this I want to start doing what I can as a wellbeing coach, to start normalizing conversations on mental health and help those who need it through positive interventions, creating a space for people to talk about their problems and providing them with the tools and support to get through it, and having the courage to seek out the help of a therapist, when needed.
Creating a happier Philippines is a group effort, and while I continue learn from the best teachers in the country and abroad, this is so much bigger than just me. Coaching Happiness is a collaborative space between life coaches, therapists, teachers, and healers, who all want to make a difference in this country’s mental health, one happy Filipino at a time.