Mental health first

I came across a podcast the other day on Lady Gaga and a one-on-one interview she had with Oprah. A few months ago, I made it a personal commitment, despite a really hectic schedule, to listen to 15-minute podcasts before I hit the road for work because I considered it part of my “me time” and my own little way of self-improvement; more so, self-investment.

Going back to the podcast, I learned how Lady Gaga made it her personal advocacy to champion mental health issues and help others who struggle with it based on her own personal experience as a sufferer of fibromyalgia. Here I learned how she continues to overcome the disease by taking care of her mental health which somewhat helps alleviate her symptoms and improve the quality of her life.

I also learned how her past experiences triggered her disease that devastated her in the beginning, recalling a rape incident as one of her biggest triggers. Moments ago, and as I write this column, I had learned about an on-campus incident in Ateneo de Davao University on the death of a junior high school student where both the Davao City Police Office, together with DepEd, launched a joint investigation on the incident. While the cause of death was not shared in the article I read, it ended its report by informing readers on helping those with mental health issues.

There is, however, a terrible thing called stigma, including prejudice and discrimination, when it comes to those with mental health issues and I can only salute the brave ones who have come forward and address theirs in the hope of saving the lives of others. For one, in the Philippines, with the sky-rocketing cases of HIV, I’m learning how young people with the disease are coping harder with the stigma, which in effect is not helping us (as a country) address the issue any better when clearer educational solutions are needed.

In our culture, we still attribute mental health to religious beliefs or even superstition that is contrary to the actual causes a medical expert can offer best as support to a sufferer of an illness. The biggest cause of stigma when it comes to mental health is indeed the lack of knowledge and a poor attitude towards the people who have been affected by mental illnesses.

Issues surrounding mental health in our country remain to be a neglected part of our health care system, perhaps because it is simply not as concrete as physical illnesses. It must, however, be treated as seriously as one treats a patient with cancer or heart disease. Almost 4 million Filipinos suffer from mental health issues and, if left unaddressed, it may not only lead to an increase in cases but moreover influence the productivity of communities as a whole.

In today’s world, we need to focus more on educating ourselves on the warning signs of mental illness as well as practicing kindness and compassion towards others who may be suffering from depression and anxiety and, in general, respecting others who do not necessarily behave the same way as you do. Our mental health needs proper care and it is something we must all learn to prioritize daily as it includes our social, emotional and psychological wellbeing. How we cope with life determines our mental health and families share a bond that can support one another, especially in the most trying of times.

My biggest takeaway from Lady Gaga’s podcast is, don’t be afraid to tell your story… you might just inspire others to speak up and if you or someone you know is going through a mental health crisis, do not hesitate to call for help. It’s time we made mental health a priority.