PASMO BA JUD?
: Philippine Myth
on Mental Health
A symposium on Mental Health Awareness
Submitted to:
DR. BENIDICTA LASCANO
Submitted by:
JOHN KARL D. FERNANDO
MASTER IN COUNSELING
BACKGROUND OF THE PROGRAM
Mental health has been defined by WHO (1999) as a state of well-being in which
the individual realizes his or her own abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works
productively and fruitfully, and makes contributions to the community. Mental health is
considered the foundation for well-being and effective functioning for an individual and for
a community. A community of mentally healthy individuals is therefore empowered,
productive, and resilient.
Promoting mental health covers a variety of strategies, which aims to have positive
impact on mental health. It involves actions that create living conditions and environments
to support mental health and allow people to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. This
includes programs and policies that aim to foster individual and community mental health
towards healthy living. The connection between chronic non communicable diseases
(NCDs) and mental health problems has been shown to be bi-directional. Chronic NCDs
can lead to certain mental health issues just as mental illness can also contribute to
development of chronic NCDs.
Mental health problems are increasing and dramatically adding to the global
burden of disease and disability worldwide. Mental disorders account for about 14% of
global burden of disease: depression, alcohol/drug abuse, and psychoses (WHO, 2007).
The public health impact of mental illness is that it can cause disability for prolonged
periods. Mental illness has been found to be the third most common form of disability in
the Philippines in 2000 after visual and hearing impairments, with a prevalence rate of 88
cases per 100,000 population (National Statistics Office, 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 (DOH National Objectives for Health, 2005-2010).
WHO (2007) reports that about half of mental disorders begin before the age of
fourteen. Around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are estimated to have
mental disorders or problems, with similar types of disorders being reported across
cultures. In the Global School Health Survey (2007), 17% of students 13- 15 years old
with specific mental health problems described to be “feeling lonely most of the time or
always during the last 12 months”, 16.7% “seriously considered attempting suicide during
the past 12 months” and 4.5% reported “having no close friends”.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM
At the end of this symposium, Participants shall be able to:
1. Identify the stigma and myth of Mental Health
2. Describe the Benefits of promoting Mental Health
3. Describe strategies in promoting Mental Health in:
a. School
b. Home
c. Community
BENEFICIARY OF THE PROGRAM
The beneficiary of the program is the Grade 7 to Grade 12 students of Makilala
National High School, Poblacion Makilala Cotabato. They were chosen as the beneficiary
since according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report that about half of mental
disorders begin before the age of fourteen. Around 20% of the world’s children and
adolescents are estimated to have mental disorders or problems, with similar types of
disorders being reported across cultures. In the Global School Health Survey (2007), 17%
of students 13- 15 years old with specific mental health problems described to be “feeling
lonely most of the time or always during the last 12 months”, 16.7% “seriously considered
attempting suicide during the past 12 months” and 4.5% reported “having no close
friends”.
BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM
ITEM QUANTITY AMOUNT TOTAL
Speaker Honorarium 3 1,000.00 3,000.00
Speaker/Working Committee lunch and Merienda 20 150.00 3,000.00
School and Office Supplies 1,000.00
Budget of the Program will be shouldered by School MOOE and PTA