THE past year and a half have changed the world drastically. We've all had to adjust to new routines and new setups. Although some of us may be somewhat okay now, the truth is that collectively...we're not that okay. No one was prepared for just how much the Covid-19 pandemic would upend our lives. A year before the pandemic took hold of the world, the Department of Health reported that around 3.3 million Filipinos were affected by depressive disorders, and in 2021, that number ballooned to 17 million. And these numbers may just be the tip of the iceberg. Aside from our own personal losses and financial difficulties, we have also suffered through isolation and loneliness, and feelings of hopelessness have become inescapable. Anxiety, depression and stress levels are at an all-time high. Unfortunately for some people, the resulting chaos has served as a trigger for their own mental health conditions.
But despite all of this, why are some people still afraid of speaking out? Some of it has to do with our culture and how it perpetuates stigma about mental illness: the prevailing viewpoint on mental health in this country is that it's something of which to be ashamed. To some, it signifies personal failure. Stereotypes surrounding the mentally ill prevail: people with mental health conditions are considered unreliable, unstable and dangerous. This judgment makes it hard for those who are experiencing mental distress to acknowledge that there is a problem. Around 40 percent of people diagnosed with mental health conditions never seek help or never finish treatment. People who do not seek help are often at risk for their conditions getting worse, contributing to declining performance whether at school or at work. At worst, it is enough for some people to consider ending their lives.
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