Last Saturday, we had another interesting #HealthXPH tweet chat co-moderated by Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison), medical students RJ Nagui (@rjnaguitskona) and Ryan Lintao (@rylintao) and Senator Risa Hontiveros (@risahontiveros). The topic was The Youth and Mental Health.
Mental health has long been discussed in hushed voices. Tonight, we voice out,& we also listen #HealthXPH @giasison @rjnaguitskona @rylintao
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) January 28, 2017
The flurry of tweets went past the one hour allotted for the tweet chat. Below I’ve gathered tweets that struck me because of their candor and bravery. They cry out to be shared. These tweets were answers to the first question T1.
T1. What are the common problems faced by the youth with regard to mental health? Do you have any mental health related stories?
#HealthXPh My CLE teacher told the class that people who suicide are “ungrateful”. Teachers need mental health class!!!
— Bea (@Bipolar_Bea_r) January 28, 2017
#HealthXPh My sister said that people who have suicidal thoughts but are not going to suicide are only doing it for attention.
— Bea (@Bipolar_Bea_r) January 28, 2017
solo parenting, stressful pregnancy, pain of labor, child loss, later diagnosed with BPD and PTSD.. dapat “chill” lang daw ako. #healthxph
— Grace Anacay (@this_grasia) January 28, 2017
Made it through college with escitalopram and aripiprazole, but everyone should also have access to services and meds #HealthXPh #mhactnow
— Jarvin Tan (@Jetlax) January 28, 2017
I can count the number of times my anxiety has been acknowledged as opposed to invalidated with one hand #HealthXPh
— samantha 🌸🌈 (@mabuhaybakla) January 28, 2017
I have been told, “Wag mo kasi pahirapan sarili mo.” But it’s not me, it’s the anxiety and depression I had have that kills me. #healthxph
— Juju (@julienne15A) January 28, 2017
T1 Cliche as it may sound but stigma is a big hurdle we face. Common insensitive brandings of MH conditions such as “pag-iinarte” #healthxph
— Yves #MentalHealthPH (@yveeesdrop) January 28, 2017
They use “psycho” or “mental disorders” as adjectives and take it for granted #HealthXPh #MHActNow
— cath (@cookate_) January 28, 2017
Stigma against depression that it is just being too sad, that it’s just temporary. #HealthXPH https://t.co/XBDNYwckvg
— Yvainne Liwag (@jellybeyn) January 28, 2017
Being told “nag-iinarte ka lang” or “mas marami pang mas mabigat ang problema kesa sa’yo” #healthxph https://t.co/wM3YZGPmdu
— Bel (@notstargirl) January 28, 2017
T1 Having no one to share their problems with, mainly because many people brush it off and think of it as attention seeking #HealthXPH
— shai (@shainainfinity) January 28, 2017
T1 the thing is when the youth speaks out about mental health, our concerns are pegged as pag-iinarte, pagiging overly sensitive #healthxph
— alexia ✨ (@alexiactan) January 28, 2017
@rjnaguitskona @maartistmd .people would call you “baliw” or psycho when you tell them you have a psychiatrist. #healthxph #MHActNow
— Micah (@micahlaborte) January 28, 2017
T1 Regardless of causes, the most common problem faced by youth is “‘Di ko alam kanino lalapit. (I don’t know who to approach.)” #HealthXPh
— Ryan Cristian Lintao (@rylintao) January 28, 2017
Tbh, one of the biggest problems I have is distinguishing if I’m really having an episode or if I’m just tired #HealthXPH #MentalHealthPH
— Bel (@notstargirl) January 28, 2017
Through informing the public about what is “mental health” we can eradicate the “depressed ka LANG” mentality. #HealthXPH #MHActNow
— jannmeds (@JannMeds) January 28, 2017
T1 others feel uncomfortable to availing of such services due to fear of being judged, others also don’t go because of “no time” https://t.co/8K6kd7BgGl
— Joan Claire 🌻 (@MarsRavalo) January 28, 2017
T1: The “Mahina ang mga depressed.” thought. Kaya napifeel nung mga depressed na hindi sila naiintindihan. #HealthXPh #MentalHealthPH
— Je Valencia Reyes (@autophaJe) January 28, 2017
Upon consultation with student councils & orgs, we found out that there are a lot of suicide attempts. One death is one too many. #HealthXPh
— Ryan Cristian Lintao (@rylintao) January 28, 2017
T1: Lack of people who can be confidants whenever the patient feels “down”. #HealthXPh #MentalHealthPH
— Je Valencia Reyes (@autophaJe) January 28, 2017
What did you feel when you read these tweets? I hope that you will support Senate Bill No. 1190 or the Philippine Mental Health Act.
From the bill’s Explanatory Note –
In the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority has reported that 1 in 5 adult Filipinos suffer from mental or psychiatric disorders, resulting in an average of 88 reported cases of mental illness per 100,000 Filipinos.
Let’s do our part in ending the stigma!
“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.” #HealthXPhpic.twitter.com/Z1WRQtjEIp
— Heimo (@HeimoCo) January 28, 2017