mental health Archives

Feb112019 by Editor in Chief1 Comment

Reymark Simbulan is ready to rise again

Features

By JOY THERESE C. GOMEZ A FATEFUL incident that happened almost two years ago left Reymark Simbulan with a temporary handicap. In a bout with overpowering tendencies to end his life, Reymark jumped from his condominium unit on the 17th floor. While his life has never been the same since then, the repercussions of the episode turned out to be a way for him to fully embrace and accept himself. The former Artlet Student Council president calls the process of recovery a “war”—it does not come without sacrifices, and it is a series of battles that he needs to overcome one by one to become stronger and more resilient. Reymark also says that although he had to give up certain goals like bagging Latin honors and being able to play sports, the setback has not stopped him from movin...

May272018 by Editor in ChiefNo Comments

AB’s fight for mental health: Is the effort enough?

Issues

IN A country with a population of almost 110 million, one in five people suffer from mental health problems as reported by the Philippines Statistic Authority in 2010. Former Department of Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial admitted that the Philippines has one psychiatrist for every 250,000, far from the ideal ratio of one psychiatrist for every 50,000. In the global statistic of the World Health Organization-Philippines, there are more than 300 million people living with depression, one of the most common mental illnesses. Additionally, the National Statistics Office said mental illnesses are the third most common form of morbidity among Filipinos. It is undeniable that mental illnesses exist and has been a growing problem in the country. A Journalism student from the Faculty...

Oct222017 by Editor in ChiefNo Comments

Vulnerability and the art of expression

Culture

By ANGELA M. SE HONESTY IS key to art, and as much as it comes at a price of one’s vulnerability, to manifest oneself is to reveal the wounds that need healing or unearth one’s hidden burdens. Just like any therapies, honesty in oneself is a must to uncover issues and repressions to have a better understanding of one’s current situation. However, not everyone would find it easy to talk about their issues and this is how Expressive Arts Therapy has come into the picture. Expressive Arts Therapy focuses mainly on one’s exploration of expression to channel his or her manifestation, may it be through traditional art, movements, or dancing. In short, this entails one to find his/her best mode of expression through the arts. Adrienne Santos, Communications Officer of Magis Creati...

Oct212017 by Editor in ChiefNo Comments

Neu Roses: Continuing Conversations

Perspectives

IT HAS been a year since the Department of Health officially launched a national hotline that will provide help to people with mental health concerns. The project is called HOPELINE, a 24/7 crisis support hotline for depression and suicide prevention. People behind the phone are trained by professional psychiatrists and psychologists who have undergone intensive training to answer callers in times of need. However, I have encountered many stories circulating in social networking sites, reporting the hotline as inattentive. One user stated that the line becomes busy in the early hours of the morning, while another claimed that her responder hung up the phone when she was crying so hard she could not speak. These were only some of the reports that Twitter users raised against the HOPELINE...