THE speedy passage of the Mental Health Law is an important step including this as a priority in public health services.
The law also helps to counter deep-seated misconceptions and biases many Filipinos have towards this “state of well-being,” as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Advocates and all citizens must continue to push for the full implementation of the law, which should be directed first at making mental health care affordable for Filipinos struggling not just with lack of full understanding but also inadequate financial resources and a support system to cope with the stress triggers making them or their families vulnerable to problems and other sources of stress, like disasters and emergencies.
Mental health, though, is not just about addressing disorders but first of all, promoting health and preventing these disorders from leading to self-harm and death.
According to the WHO, mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
The WHO definition emphasizes not only the psychological make-up but all the facets of a person, linking the “physical, mental, and social” aspects that constitute complete health. The state of one’s health is thrown out of equilibrium if even one aspect is neglected.
Even without the implementing rules and regulations of the Mental Health Law, families, educators, health professionals, and civil society must work to address one of the most pressing issues confronting our society.
According to the WHO, neuropsychiatric disorders are “among the leading causes of worldwide disability” among children and teenagers. These also affect adults, the elderly, all economic classes. This is made worse by many families’ lack of resources to allocate for mental health needs, including access to a psychiatrist.
Since the WHO’s finding is that “half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14,” schools, families, and parents-teachers associations must prioritize programs, tapping traditional approaches and new media, to reach out to all youths, with specific approaches tailored for the more vulnerable members.
Communities, religious groups, and barangay leaders, particularly the Sangguniang Kabataan, must have interventions for out-of-school youths.
The WHO’s second fact concerning mental health—the connection between substance abuse, mental disorders, and disability—emphasizes the need for community-based rehabilitation programs for former drug dependents.
The Cebu Archdiocese’s plan to reach out to street children as the next phase in their multisectoral community-based drug rehabilitation program needs the support of the barangays, mental health professionals, schools, and other stakeholders. Abandoned by parents, street children need a long-term program to wean them away from a life that will end up being in conflict with the law.
Mental disorders, exacerbated by abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol, result in suicide. According to the WHO, “early identification and effective management” are needed to prevent persons from committing self-harm. Many families need education and assistance so they can understand and prevent suicide, one of the most misunderstood taboos.
Driven by shame, fear of being judged and socially isolated, lack of finances, and other factors, many families resort to the forcible restraint, maltreatment, and the violation of the rights of members struggling with mental disability. Many are abandoned and left to wander on the streets, where they are at risk to themselves and the public.
Realizing the enormity and the urgency of the need for mental health services, local governments, civil society, and all stakeholders should not wait for the Mental Health Law to be implemented but initiate measures to address these gaps now.