Mental health issues a concern for Marcos

Mental health problems in the country are on the rise. Some kids are not alright. President Marcos is worried.

At the awarding of the Medallion of Excellence to the 2024 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos held recently in Malacañang, the President took time to talk to one of the awardees, Maria Regina Hechanova-Alampay.

Prof. Gina is a mental health expert and psychology professor at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

While congratulating each and every awardee, Marcos spent a few minutes to ask Prof. Gina what’s the reason for the rise in mental health cases in the country. She said one of the reasons is the influence of social media.

Mental health, indeed, is a serious problem in the country and it’s good that President Marcos is well aware of this.

According to the article, “Towards transforming the mental health services of the Philippines” by Rowalt Alibudbud, mental disorders in the country increase every year.

“In the Philippines, the prevalence of mental disorders ranged between 11.3 percent and 11.6 percent, with an average annual increase of two percent; increasing from 7.0 to 12.5 million Filipinos diagnosed with a mental disorder between 1990 and 2019. Anxiety and depression are the prevailing conditions. Considering these challenges, WHO (World Health Organization) advocated a strategic approach comprising increasing political prioritization and funding, developing a sustainable and transformative model of care and promoting a collaborative approach to practical context-specific measures.”

A separate article published by The STAR early this month, citing WHO data, said that depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of illnesses and disability among adolescents, and suicide is among the leading causes of death in people aged 15 to 19 years old.

Data from the Department of Education for school year 2021 to 2022 highlighted that there were 404 recorded student suicides and over 2,100 suicide attempts during the period. (The STAR, Nov. 5).

Against this backdrop, I hope that our policymakers will have more open discussions and interventions to address the problem. The government needs to mandate the provision of mental health experts in schools and universities and our local government executives also need to provide free mental health services in their cities or localities.

Medallion of Excellence

Metrobank Foundation is correct in recognizing mental health experts like Prof. Gina as one of its awardees, given the rising problem of mental health in the country.

She and her fellow 2024 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos received the Medallion of Excellence awarded by Marcos last month.

But of course, it’s not only Prof. Gina. The awardees are all exemplars of public service from the academe, military and police sectors. They were recognized in the presence of government leaders and distinguished guests.

Metrobank and Metrobank Foundation chairman Arthur Ty attended the ceremony, joined by GT Capital Holdings vice chairman Alfred Ty and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña, who all looked dapper in their Barong Tagalog.

It was an honor to be part of the momentous occasion as a member of the board of judges.

In his keynote address, President Marcos urged the awardees “to continue to be the catalyst of change.”

“We need more people like you – innovative, selfless, socially responsible. As we look into the future, let us dream of progress and be relentless in our pursuit of it. The journey ahead may be long and it may be winding, but with your unwavering commitment, we will forge a path where our nation rises and flourishes, standing tall, proud, among the greats of the world.”

He also thanked Metrobank Foundation and its partners for honoring Filipino exemplary public servants.

Sobrepeña, in his speech, said the awardees, despite facing significant challenges and limited resources, demonstrate remarkable resilience and dedication to helping others.

He said, “Challenged by meager resources, life-threatening conditions and unfavorable circumstances, they mustered creativity, ingenuity and considerable courage to face these down in the classrooms, the streets and the battlefields of their engagement.”

The 2024 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos are the following:

Teachers Ma. Ella Fabella of Zamboanga City; Franco Apoyon of Zamboanga Sibugay; Decibel Faustino-Eslava from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna and Ateneo’s Prof. Gina;

Soldiers Capt. Salvador Sambalilo of the Philippine Navy; Major Ron Villarosa of the Philippine Army and staff sergeant Michael Rayanon, also of the Philippine Navy;

Police officers lieutenant colonel Bryan Bernardino of Sultan Kudarat; police major Mark Ronan Balmaceda of the National Capital Regional Police Office in Taguig City and police staff sergeant Llena Sol-Josefa Jovita of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office in Cagayan de Oro City.

In her acceptance speech on behalf of the awardees, teacher Decibel said during the ceremony:

“Our Medallion of Excellence is our call of duty to keep contributing to nation-building. The awardees here today are just 10 out of the millions who are with you in working toward a truly strong nation. Ingrained in our hearts is the will to serve and continue to work with humility, courage and dedication, drawing inspiration from those who have come before us and those we serve today.

“Thank you, and may we all live to be Outstanding Filipinos,” she said.

Congratulations again to this year’s awardees. May you inspire more more Filipinos to continue to help address the country’s problems – from mental health to everything else.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter  @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.