Say ni Dok | Alamin: Paano mapangangalagaan ang ating mental health?
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00:00 [Filipino Newsreel Narration]
00:12 [Filipino Newsreel Narration]
00:23 Good morning and welcome back to Rise and Shine Philippines. Doc Joan?
00:28 Hello, good morning Sir Audrey and Ma'am Dayang and of course good morning to all the viewers of Rise and Shine Philippines.
00:34 Thank you very much for having me.
00:36 Thank you again for joining us Dr. Joan.
00:38 For our viewers, what is the primary goal of National Mental Health Awareness Month and what is the theme of this year?
00:47 Thank you Ma'am Dayang. Yes, for this year, October 10 in fact is the World Mental Health Day.
00:55 The universal theme is "Mental Health is a Universal Human Right".
01:00 So it's a human right and what this means is that this Mental Health Awareness Month is about mental health awareness.
01:10 In a way that it's safe and there's no judgment.
01:14 We are open about discussing our mental health concerns that our loved ones and friends may be going through.
01:21 There's no form of judgment. With this awareness now, we can reduce or hopefully eliminate the stigma and discrimination
01:30 towards those individuals who are going through trials with regards to their mental health or mental health.
01:37 Okay, Doctor. There are different cases in different countries depending on their culture and way of life.
01:45 So what are the common mental health issues or common cases in our country?
01:51 Yes, Sir Audrey. In fact, during the time of COVID, we saw that the number of calls received by the National Center for Mental Health increased.
02:02 And usually, this is what persists up to today.
02:06 So these usual or common mental health concerns are about depression, anxiety, and fear.
02:15 Depression is an extreme sadness.
02:19 Mood swings and negative thoughts or negative thinking patterns.
02:26 And of course, some have substance use disorders.
02:30 Others, as a form of coping, their coping skills become unhealthy and they become over-induced.
02:37 For example, drinking substances like alcohol or smoking cigarettes, for example, or other illicit substances.
02:45 And of course, psychosis and schizophrenia.
02:48 So this usually persists even up to today.
02:53 We are in the peripandemic period and everything is at risk.
02:59 Any age group has different sources of stress.
03:04 So it is possible that some people are experiencing stress, distress, and other forms of mental health concerns.
03:12 From your data, Dr. Joan, what is normally triggering depression, extreme sadness, or anxiety in Filipinos?
03:23 Yes. Thank you, Ma'am Diane.
03:26 So as mentioned earlier, different things are triggering or what we call stressors.
03:32 So for example, more or less, if the age group is younger, it's about academics, school, family.
03:39 If it's a bit more like the Gen Xers, usually about work, family relationships, social relationships, and so on.
03:50 So it's different, finances, financials.
03:52 So what we call here, we look at the causes of our mental health conditions as an interplay of biological, psychological, and social and spiritual factors.
04:04 Biologically, the main factor is genetics.
04:08 So it's possible that it's already there.
04:10 The risk is high if there's a family member who is going through a mental health condition.
04:16 So there will be a family member, but it's not 100% always.
04:22 Because again, there are other factors there.
04:24 For example, psychological factors.
04:26 If we have a strong coping skills, if we know how to navigate through life's challenges.
04:35 The psychological factors are if we have been through a lot of adverse life experiences or trauma, it can still affect us.
04:45 Social is the social support available to us from family, from friends, from loved ones, from the school.
04:53 How is their social support in school, from their teachers, from the administrators of the school, or in the workplace.
04:59 How is their cooperation in the workplace.
05:04 Okay, there are many factors and it's not just pinpointed to one factor.
05:08 So there are many factors in different generations.
05:12 Correct, it triggers.
05:14 In the youth, more on the school.
05:16 For those in their 20s, young professionals in the workplace.
05:21 Work, finances.
05:23 Now, when they are this age, more on when the bills are piled up.
05:27 Oh, that's true.
05:28 And when you're still experiencing family problems, fights.
05:33 But Dr. John mentioned earlier about the Gen Z, more on academic, social life.
05:40 What if someone, your relative, or maybe even your child, told you that they are experiencing a mental health issue.
05:50 Because sometimes they verbalize what they are saying.
05:53 That that is their reason.
05:56 They won't function very well for today.
05:58 Meaning, some people just make excuses.
06:01 But others are valid.
06:03 So how can we determine, doctor, that the mental health issue of someone who is saying that they are experiencing it is legit?
06:11 And what will be our correct response to them?
06:14 Especially if you belong to a different generation, so you can understand this.
06:19 Yes, thank you very much.
06:21 Madam Diana, Sir Audrey, of course, it's better if our lines of communication are open.
06:27 To anyone who is mentioning that they are experiencing something, that they are feeling something.
06:31 So our red flags here, so that we can understand them and be more aware of what they are experiencing,
06:38 is number one, if we notice a recent change in their thoughts.
06:44 If we notice that they are not able to focus, concentrate on their work or their academic load.
06:52 Or if we notice that their functionality and performance in their workplace is declining.
07:03 So there is a change in their emotions.
07:05 Before, they were happy, but now we notice that they are more grumpy, angry, impatient,
07:12 or maybe there are periods where their mood is down to the point that they are always in their room.
07:20 These are the subtle signs and symptoms.
07:23 Or their eating habits are affected, be it eating or stress eating,
07:29 or they don't feel like eating and their sleeping habits are affected,
07:33 be it sleeping or lack of sleep.
07:37 So physical, or they complain about their body aches,
07:41 that they cannot explain by another medical condition.
07:47 Another is their behavior.
07:51 Again, if we notice that they are using more sticks, cigarette, cigarette smoking,
07:59 or they consume alcoholic drinks as a way to help them sleep.
08:07 Then we can see that it is unhealthy.
08:09 So these changes, changes in their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and feelings,
08:17 this can be a warning for us, especially if it affects their functionality,
08:23 their work, their daily routines, their performance in school,
08:29 and if this leads to negative or unhealthy coping skills or behaviors.
08:36 Okay, Doctor, to help our viewers, especially the parents and guardians,
08:44 what should we do if a child is still young and does not have mental health?
08:51 Yes, very important, Sir Audrey, while they are still young.
08:56 Of course, number one is, in our homes,
09:00 we should maintain open lines of communication.
09:04 We should encourage them to greet us regularly,
09:07 encourage them to speak, to talk,
09:10 greet them regularly, greet them at school,
09:13 greet your classmates, greet them at school at the end of the day.
09:19 It is better for them not to be afraid to say what they feel or experience.
09:24 And then, we should model positive coping skills or coping strategies
09:30 because children are very conscious and aware of their surroundings.
09:34 So we should promote, more on promotion,
09:37 because promotion and prevention is better.
09:40 So, like for example, maintain a physically healthy mind.
09:43 Because there is a saying, "A healthy mind in a healthy body."
09:47 We should sleep regularly, eat well,
09:51 and not skip meals, not to be hungry,
09:54 and not to be lazy, and not to go to school.
09:56 We should have breakfast so that there is at least fuel, energy, and brain cells.
10:02 And another is, support is very important.
10:05 You know, the biological, psychological, and social factors.
10:08 So social support is very important.
10:10 No judgments, if someone says something.
10:12 So, we call this, Sir Audrey, let's provide a safe space for our loved ones
10:18 so that they are not afraid to speak or to say their experiences.
10:22 Self-care is very important.
10:24 And we should have time to engage in activities which we find very relaxing, enjoyable, and fun to do.
10:34 So that there is always a balance between our work and our life.
10:40 So, work-life balance is very important.
10:43 And of course, spirituality.
10:44 Spirituality is about, we should know the meaning and purpose of the challenges we are facing.
10:52 And from that, we should not lose hope because help is always available.
10:56 Okay, Doctor, this is the last follow-up question.
10:59 You mentioned that we should have open communication at home
11:04 and we should be supportive of the thoughts and ideas of the youth.
11:08 What if contradicting?
11:10 Because what parents experience when there are different values,
11:14 when the reasoning or logic of the parents is different from the children,
11:19 especially the teenagers, that's when there is a clash or a rebellion.
11:24 How will you support a child or a child who has a different way of thinking?
11:32 That's right.
11:34 In fact, Sir Audrey, what will happen is, especially when the generation of parents and children is different,
11:41 there are generational gaps, as we call it.
11:44 And the generational differences can be explained there,
11:48 how their manner of communication and behavior are different.
11:53 So, what's better here, what we call here is empathy.
11:56 Meaning, let's try to put ourselves in the experience of our loved one, our child, for example.
12:02 So, let's erase our personal thoughts and put ourselves in their position.
12:10 Let's go through or feel what you feel,
12:14 be it, for example, that you're having a hard time in school or maybe you have conflicts about your best friends.
12:21 So, let's go through that and feel what you're feeling.
12:25 Let's listen with open hearts, open minds, and no judgment.
12:30 So, we can get a better context of their experiences and we can be more aware.
12:36 It's better if we have awareness of what they're going through so that we can help them better and support them
12:42 and we can guide them through the challenges of life.
12:45 Because they will definitely learn from the experience,
12:48 especially if there's 100% unconditional love and support from the parents.
12:54 Okay, Dr. Jun, this is just yesterday because this is important.
12:56 Maybe some of our viewers will need help in response to their mental health problem or illness.
13:04 You said that help is always available and safe space is important for them.
13:09 What are the contact numbers and contact details that they can call if ever they will be needing help?
13:17 Yes, the National Center for Mental Health has a crisis hotline
13:24 which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
13:27 It's 1553. It's easy to memorize.
13:32 The numbers that will be given for this are available on the DOH webpage.
13:38 And of course, we're also here from the Philippine Psychiatric Association to also help.
13:44 We also have an official webpage of the Philippine Psychiatric Association.
13:49 You can find our contact numbers and list of available psychiatrists who are here to help everyone.
13:57 Again, don't lose hope because help is always available.
14:00 No judgment, safe space is very important so that we give everyone equal chance
14:06 and the opportunity to seek help.
14:08 Don't be shy, don't be afraid.
14:10 And let's remember that mental health is a universal human right.
14:15 Thank you for sharing your information with us today.
14:20 Thank you for joining us Dr. Joan May Perez, Referialist and Psychiatrist.
14:24 Thank you, Doc.
14:25 Thank you, Doctor.
14:26 Thank you very much for the answer, Sir Audrey.
14:28 And to Rice and Chai, the Filipinas family, thank you very much for having me once again.
14:32 More power. Thank you.
14:34 Thank you.