Philippines' National Mental Health Week sparks discussions on individual well-being
The Philippines' National Mental Health Week will take place from October 9 to 13. October, then, is not only the month for Halloween but also a reminder to raise awareness of one's mental well-being.
The government aimed to allocate Php 306.1 billion for the health sector from the Php 5.768 billion proposed 2024 National Budget. This is Php 8.6 billion less than the Php 314.7 billion budget from the previous year.
Under the proposed budget, the Department of Health (DOH) will allocate Php 1.7 billion for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, with Php 1 billion of it dedicated to cancer patients. Meanwhile, the remaining Php 682.709 million will be allocated to support individuals in need of mental health care.
This funding will cover expenses associated with mental health treatments, such as medications like Sodium Valproate 250 mg, Paliperidone Palmitate 100 mg, and Haloperidol 5 mg/mL. These resources will be distributed to patients across 362 mental health access sites throughout the country.
According to the latest record from the DOH, there are 124,246 mental health patients listed in mental health facilities. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that every person's mental health is important, as it reflects the well-being of every individual.
On a smaller scale, the Bulacan State University Guidance and Counseling Services Center, in partnership with the BulSU College of Arts and Letters, has launched 'Project Green Space,' which aims to promote a culture of mental health awareness and support among Bulsuans.
The campaign project will engage students in 20 days of activities, including videos and posters for mental health awareness, as well as interactive bulletin boards located at Lovers Lane and the Guidance and Counseling Services Center. BulSU Guidance and Counseling Services Center and BulSU College of Arts and Letters aim to break the stigma surrounding concepts related to mental health and create a safe environment within the BulSU community.
According to Xyril, a nursing student, mental health talks about not just a person who has a psychiatric illness but also encompasses broader concepts related to well-being.
"Seek help, hindi naman lahat ng tao, i-ju-judge ka for having that kind of condition. It's new, however, it's normal din namang nangyayari. Totoo siya," she said when asked what her message is to people experiencing a mental health downturn. | via Khyrus Joser Santos and Sophia Mae Arellano, Juan News
Reference:
https://www.paho.org/en/topics/mental-health
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Our%20Budget/2023/2023-Budget-at-a-Glance-Enacted.pdf
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Our%20Budget/2024/2024-Budget-at-a-Glance-Proposed.pdf
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/management-2/195-government-allots-over-p2-billion-in-proposed-2024-national-budget-to-aid-cancer-patients
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