Mental Health and Mental Disorders

The WHO defines mental health as a state of well being that enables a person to
realize
his or her own abilities to cope with the normal stresses of life. It emphasizes that
mental health is more than just the absence of psychiatric disorder or illness but
also includes a positive state of mental well being.
Mental illness is not a fatal disease. Even those who have been mentally ill for most
of
their lives rarely die of mental illness.
However, there is a growing concern for the increasing trend of mortality rate from
suicide and self-inflicted injuries which has reached a level of 1.8 deaths per
100,000 population in 2000 (PHS).
The public health impact of mental illness lies in the fact that it can cause disability
for prolonged periods. In a disability survey by the National Statistics Office in 2000,
it was found that mental illness is the third most common form of disability after
visual and hearing impairments. In this survey, the prevalence rate of mental illness
in the Philippines was 88 cases per 100,000 population in 2000. The region with the
highest prevalence rate of mental illness is Southern Tagalog at 132.9 cases per
100,000 population, followed by NCR at 130.8 per 100,000 population and Central
Luzon at 88.2 per 100,000 population.
This report is strengthened by the Social Weather Stations Survey commissioned by
DOH in June 2004 which revealed that 0.7 percent of total households have a family
member with mental disability. In another study, the Baseline Survey for the
National Objectives for Health (BSNOH) conducted in 2000, the more frequently
reported symptoms of mental health problem cited by the sampled household
respondents were excessive sadness, confusion and forgetfulness, no control over
the use of cigarettes and alcohol, and delusions. Excessive sadness, forgetfulness
and confusion increase with age while cigarette and alcohol abuse affect adults and
adolescents more than they do the older persons. The prevalence of mental illness,
since it can be chronic, is reportedly highest among the older age groups. Related to
mental illness is the problem of drug abuse. The Dangerous Drugs Board in 1998
estimated that there are about 1.8 million regular users and 1.6 million occasional
users of dangerous drugs in the country or around 2.5 percent regular users and 2.2
percent occasional users. The first dangerous drug of choice is methamphetamine
hydrochloride or shabu and the second is marijuana.
Other predisposing factors in the development of mental illness include familial or
hereditary mental disorders like schizophrenia, and disorders related to
psychosocial
development. Some mental illnesses are due to inability to cope with stress brought
about by daily living such as migration, urbanization, industrialization, poverty and
abuses. The distressing experiences of vulnerable population like children and other
persons in difficult circumstances can make them susceptible to mental illness.
Persons who are socially deprived are least likely to obtain help for mental and
physical
trauma, according to a United Nations report. About two thirds of people known to
have
mental disorders do not obtain help from health professionals. TheWHO identified
that
stigma, discrimination and neglect have prevented care and management from
reaching persons with mental disorders.
Psychiatric patients in the Philippines are usually managed in a mental hospital
setting.
There is now a shift in the management of persons with mental disorders at
psychiatric
wards in university and private hospitals. Community-based mental health care is
also
encouraged.
Several policies were made to address mental health and mental disorders in the
country.
Since substance abuse is the leading direct and indirect cause of mental illness
among the economically productive age group, the passage of RA 9165
(Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act) would impact positively on the control of mental illness in the
country. In 2001, the National Mental Health Policy was issued by the DOH,
prescribing
the framework toward the attainment of optimum state of mental health for all
Filipinos.
The policy aims to raise the professional and public awareness that mental health is
an
integral component of total health care. The National Mental Health Policy needs to
be
translated into action programs by the various partner agencies with the DOH
taking the
lead in mobilizing partners and ensuring implementation.
The social stigma associated with mental illness is a major cause for non-use of
health
and psychosocial services by Filipinos. The lack of understanding of mental illness
and
the importance of mental health among Filipinos is as serious as the lack of a
regular and useful database on the prevalence, manifestations, causation and risk
factors of mental illness in the country.

Kathleen Toribio
Study data regarding the prevalence of mental illness in the Philippines:
Philippine Mental Health Country Profile.
Enjoying mental health means having a sense of wellbeing, being able to function
during everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the
opportunity arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to
increase your mental health. Boost your wellbeing and stay mentally healthy by
following a few simple steps.

Connect with others. Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around
you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships
has a great effect on our wellbeing. Putting time and effort into building strong
relationships can bring great rewards.

Take time to enjoy. Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let
yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword;
take a walk in your local park; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your kids;
play with your pets whatever takes your fancy.
Participate and share interests. Join a club or group of people who share your
interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense
of belonging and is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an
evening walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or car club.

Contribute to your community. Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you
care about. Help out a neighbour, work in a community garden or do something nice
for a friend. There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good
about yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of others is
sure to improve your life too.

Take care of yourself. Be active and eat well these help maintain a healthy body.
Physical and mental health are closely linked; its easier to feel good about life if
your body feels good. You dont have to go to the gym to exercise gardening,
vacuuming, dancing and bushwalking all count. Combine physical activity with a
balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling good, inside and
out.

Challenge yourself. Learn a new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You
could take on something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook
a new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet your
own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of progress and
achievement.

Deal with stress. Be aware of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may
be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others.
Stress is a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a
problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced lifestyle
can help you manage stress better. If you have trouble winding down, you may find
that relaxation breathing, yoga or meditation can help.

Rest and refresh. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and
practice good habits to get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body.
However, feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and
overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocussed time each day
to refresh; for example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply watch the clouds
go by for a while. Its OK to add do nothing to your to-do list!

Notice the here and now. Take a moment to notice each of your senses each day.
Simply be in the moment feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air
you are breathing. Its easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for
the future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by focusing
your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this. Making a conscious
effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is important for your mental health.

Ask for help. This can be as simple as asking a friend to babysit while you have
some time out or speaking to your doctor (GP) about where to find a counsellor or
community mental health service. The perfect, worry-free life does not exist.
Everyones life journey has bumpy bits and the people around you can help. If you
dont get the help you need first off, keep asking until you do.

BETTER HEALTH CHANNEL.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/ten_tips_to_stay_me
ntally_healthy?open