Mental Health in the Philippines

I remember Zorro, the mentally ill man who roam the University of the Philippines – Diliman and believes that he is a hero protecting the students. Like the Johnston McCulley stories, he wears a cape and a mask. He has become a permanent icon in the university. It is not only the bumps on the road that we emphasize but also the picturesque journey towards our wonderful life goals. Still, I do not know his particular condition, diagnosis, cause of the illness, and treatments. “Am I mentally healthy? Do I have a high mental health literacy?” I ask myself as I stare in the setting sun? Mental health is a state of wellness where every person realizes his/her full capacity, is able to cope with life’s normal stressors, is able to perform his/her functional roles and work productively, and contributes to his/her society (WHO, 2016). Note that in this definition, it is not only the absence of mental illnesses that is important but also the achievement of a person’s full potential and