What is mental health?
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.
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 the enacting of his/her social roles. It is not only the bumps on the road that we emphasize but also the picturesque journey towards our wonderful life goals.
In the Philippines, one out of five, or 20%, of Filipinos have mental health problems. Moreover, between 17-20% of adults experience psychiatric disorders while 10-15% of children between 5-15 years old have mental health problems (Magtubo, 2016). In addition, the suicide rate per 100,000 population is 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women (NCMH, 2013). Finally, suicide cases caused by mental health issues reach 2,558 instances (WHO, 2014). If we do not immediately act on these trends, it is like a timed bomb that will shatter right in front of all of us.
Mental health literacy: Siraulo, baliw, and taong-grasa
“Siraulo! Baliw! Taong-grasa!” are the most common terminologies that Filipinos use to describe a mentally ill person (Ramos Shahani, 2014). It is ironic that the 5th happiest people in the world (Garcia, 2015), do not have high awareness about mental health (Ramos Shahani, 2014). How can we be happy if we do not know how to manage anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, etc.?
“Baliw” can be literally translated to crazy while the literal translation of “siraulo” is malfunctioning head/brain. On the other hand, “taong-grasa” is literally translated to greasy person pertaining to the homeless with mental illness who are usually filthy. In fact, although Zorro is not homeless, he is sometimes referred to as a taong-grasa. However, in the mental health profession, they are sometimes referred to as psychiatric vagrants / homeless. We, Filipinos, tend to have a lack of ability to understand the nuances of each type of psychological disorder because we describe them into a single umbrella term.
If we cluster our vocabulary into a single label, we tend to act towards the mentally ill in a single all-sweeping manner.
If all we see is crazy, then there is no cure. If all we see is malfunctioning brain, then there is no cure. If all we see is filthy psychiatric homeless, then there is no cure. But if we see anxiety disorder, then there is a cure. If we see post-traumatic stress disorder, then there is a cure. If we see schizophrenia, then there is treatment.
If we cluster our vocabulary into a single label, we tend to act towards the mentally ill in a single all-sweeping manner. We tend to think that all mental illnesses are incurable which, I believe, is one of the most popular myths about mental health. In fact, however, there are many treatments available from hospitalization, medication, psychotherapy, and support groups.
As the sun sets, perhaps Zorro continue to wander the university protecting students from the perils that lurk around the corner.
What do you think about mental health?
What are your opinions on the mental health literacy of Filipinos?
References:
Garcia, P. (2015). Filipinos ranked 5th in happiest list. http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2015/03/23/pinoys-among-the-worlds-happiest.html Retrieved October 23, 2017.
Magtubo, C. A. (2016). Mental health in the Philippines: By the numbers. http://today.mims.com/mental-health-in-the-philippines--by-the-numbers Retrieved October 20, 2017
National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). (2013). ASEAN countries mental health databank. http://www.ncmh.gov.ph/index.php/mhdb#country-profile Retrieved October 20, 2017.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). Preventing suicide: A Global imperative. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/131056/1/9789241564779_eng.pdf Retrieved October 20, 2017.
Click here to read more about Zorro
Image from pixabay.com
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 the enacting of his/her social roles. It is not only the bumps on the road that we emphasize but also the picturesque journey towards our wonderful life goals.
In the Philippines, one out of five, or 20%, of Filipinos have mental health problems. Moreover, between 17-20% of adults experience psychiatric disorders while 10-15% of children between 5-15 years old have mental health problems (Magtubo, 2016). In addition, the suicide rate per 100,000 population is 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women (NCMH, 2013). Finally, suicide cases caused by mental health issues reach 2,558 instances (WHO, 2014). If we do not immediately act on these trends, it is like a timed bomb that will shatter right in front of all of us.
Mental health literacy: Siraulo, baliw, and taong-grasa
“Siraulo! Baliw! Taong-grasa!” are the most common terminologies that Filipinos use to describe a mentally ill person (Ramos Shahani, 2014). It is ironic that the 5th happiest people in the world (Garcia, 2015), do not have high awareness about mental health (Ramos Shahani, 2014). How can we be happy if we do not know how to manage anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, etc.?
Some homeless persons also suffer from mental illness
“Baliw” can be literally translated to crazy while the literal translation of “siraulo” is malfunctioning head/brain. On the other hand, “taong-grasa” is literally translated to greasy person pertaining to the homeless with mental illness who are usually filthy. In fact, although Zorro is not homeless, he is sometimes referred to as a taong-grasa. However, in the mental health profession, they are sometimes referred to as psychiatric vagrants / homeless. We, Filipinos, tend to have a lack of ability to understand the nuances of each type of psychological disorder because we describe them into a single umbrella term.
If we cluster our vocabulary into a single label, we tend to act towards the mentally ill in a single all-sweeping manner.
If all we see is crazy, then there is no cure. If all we see is malfunctioning brain, then there is no cure. If all we see is filthy psychiatric homeless, then there is no cure. But if we see anxiety disorder, then there is a cure. If we see post-traumatic stress disorder, then there is a cure. If we see schizophrenia, then there is treatment.
If we cluster our vocabulary into a single label, we tend to act towards the mentally ill in a single all-sweeping manner. We tend to think that all mental illnesses are incurable which, I believe, is one of the most popular myths about mental health. In fact, however, there are many treatments available from hospitalization, medication, psychotherapy, and support groups.
As the sun sets, perhaps Zorro continue to wander the university protecting students from the perils that lurk around the corner.
What do you think about mental health?
What are your opinions on the mental health literacy of Filipinos?
References:
Garcia, P. (2015). Filipinos ranked 5th in happiest list. http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2015/03/23/pinoys-among-the-worlds-happiest.html Retrieved October 23, 2017.
Magtubo, C. A. (2016). Mental health in the Philippines: By the numbers. http://today.mims.com/mental-health-in-the-philippines--by-the-numbers Retrieved October 20, 2017
National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). (2013). ASEAN countries mental health databank. http://www.ncmh.gov.ph/index.php/mhdb#country-profile Retrieved October 20, 2017.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). Preventing suicide: A Global imperative. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/131056/1/9789241564779_eng.pdf Retrieved October 20, 2017.
Click here to read more about Zorro
Image from pixabay.com
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