Good grades, sleep, and mental health well-being. If college students were to choose only two of them, chances are, they won’t pick the last one. While this appears to be normal for some, this mentality is a manifestation of the lacking importance given to mental health.

An underrated issue 

Many students believe that stress is normal in the everyday life of a college student. Some might even say that stress can actually help students perform well, this form of stress called ‘eustress’. But, oftentimes, students are not feeling the helpful rush of ‘eustress’. In reality, they are silently struggling against the pressures of academic life.  

An award-winning study of Tristan Yuvienco from the University of the Philippines gives a glimpse of the mental health dilemma among Filipino students. Among the 135 college students he had surveyed, 96% reported feeling moderate to intense bouts of depression in school. What’s more, 50% of those do not feel empathy or understanding from friends and family.

According to National Statistics, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Filipinos aged 15 – 29 years old. Coincidentally, this is the age bracket where most college students, if not all, belong. Another pressing issue is that only one out of three Filipinos will seek the help of a psychiatrist. One third might not even be aware of their condition.

From the looks of things, this mental health dilemma among college students is certainly an issue that needs to be resolved. But, why are we still letting these students suffer in silence?

Power of taboo

Openness about mental health is a feat that is yet to be achieved in the Philippines. Certain barriers keep sufferers from asking for help.

One of the most powerful barriers is the stigma. Stereotypes such as ‘Depressed people are insane’ or ‘Depression is just a form of attention-seeking’ makes it difficult for sufferers to call for help. This kind of attitude that surrounds mental health belittles the sufferer and makes them appear as if they have not tried hard enough.

Another barrier is the strong Catholic faith in the country according to psychiatrist Dr. Dinah Pacquing-Nadera’s study. The teachings of the Catholic Church on suicide discourages families to seek help from doctors or report suicide cases. The insistence of praying as an alternative treatment to mental illnesses also prohibits suffers to get the full medical attention.

The time to act is now

The good news is, there is a way to break these barriers down. And that is through education.

Through education, we can create an open and safe discussion where Filipinos can talk about mental health. Education can also debunk stereotypes and answer pressing questions regarding mental health. But, most importantly, education can facilitate the normalization of mental health into Filipino society, paving a way to a new, mental health-friendly Philippines.  

If you want to help address this mental health dilemma, you can help by lending an ear to sufferers. This helps erase the stigma and make the environment more conducive to the recovery of people with mental illnesses.

Sources:

http://opinion.inquirer.net/95929/seven-filipinos-commit-suicide-every-day
http://opinion.inquirer.net/103172/college-mental-health
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/524070/special-report-suicide-and-the-pinoy-youth/story/