Position Paper

A. Executive summary

Health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. World Health Organization

(WHO) stated that, “There is no health without mental health.”

Mental health is the number three most common health issue in the country. In

the Philippines around 6 million Filipinos suffering from depression and/or

anxiety, making the country with the third highest percentage of mental health

problems in the Western Pacific Region.

The existing mental health system is not well designed for the people with

emerging mental health illness. This means people with mental conditions do not

receive enough medical care and not properly served by the national

government’s mental health programs and services.

With the ever-increasing rate of people suffering from mental health problems

and the necessity for effective medical care, they deserve all the help they can

receive. Mental well-being is just as significant as physical health. Early

recognition of these health conditions leads to improved wellbeing and the

prevention of future problems. It is possible to make a difference by eradicating

stigma and discrimination from those with mental illnesses. Health services must

be readily available, and they must ensure that everyone receives quality care for

all.
B. Background

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Mental health is a state of

well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with

the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a

contribution to his or her community.” Our emotional, psychological, and social

well-being are all part of our mental health. It has an impact on which an

individual realizes his or her own abilities and on the way we think, feel, and act.

It also influences how we cope with normal stress of life, interact with people,

make decisions and contributions to community. The WHO emphasized that

mental health is “more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities”.

Mental health is essential at all stages of development in life, from childhood,

adolescence, adulthood to old age.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “mental and behavioral

disorders account for about 14% of the global burden of disease and as many as

450 million people suffer from these mental illnesses. And nearly one million

commit suicide every year.” The Department of Health (DOH) headed by Frances

Prescila Cuevas conducted a survey last 2020, it showed that at least 3.6 million

Filipinos suffer from one kind of mental, neurological, and substance use

disorder.

In the Philippines around 6 million Filipinos suffering from depression and/or

anxiety, making the country with the third highest percentage of mental health

problems in the Western Pacific Region. Considering the fact, that mental illness

is the third most frequent disability in the country, yet people with mental

conditions
 do not receive enough medical care and not properly served by the national

government’s mental health programs and services.

C. Alternatives

I. Understanding some factor contributing to mental illness

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors

can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as biological factors,

environmental factors and substance abuse. In this paper, it focuses

more on environmental factors that affect mental health.

According to Rachelle Scott, medical director of psychiatry at Eden

Health, “Our environment is a combination of both physical factors

such as where you live and the people around you both in your home

but also on a wider community scale,” She also mentions how a

person's social context, including socioeconomic factors such as race

and ethnicity, as well as a lack of social support, may have a significant

impact on one's capacity to manage with stress.

With the pandemic having a significant impact on global mental health.

According to Francisco Duque III, Department of health (DOH)

secretary said that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has evoked

overwhelming reactions and emotions from people. Many have had

their livelihoods affected, others are worried about keeping their

families safe. There are many reasons why we need to take extra care

now when it comes to mental health, we hope that by raising more

awareness on the urgency

in need.”

The pandemic has further impacted mental health in groups such as

older adults, health care providers, and people with underlying health

conditions. The Covid-19 pandemic not only caused destruction of

physical health, but give rise to mental health problems. Due to the

pandemic, many people lost their jobs and working from home became

a challenge for many workers. And that leads to increase the demand

for technology or online platform such as social medias.

According to Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith, M.A., “Human

beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to

thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on

our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others

can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide

comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life.

On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious

risk to your mental and emotional health.” Social media platforms are a

convenient way to communicate, but it is important to realize that social

media will never be a substitute for face-to-face human interaction. In

order to trigger the secretion of hormones that relieve stress and make

you feel happier, healthier, and more optimistic, you must interact with

individuals in person. It is known that technology makes our life easier

platform can instead make you feel more socially isolated and lonely

which aggravate mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

II. Mental Health literacy, Awareness and Prevention needs to be

address.

Mental health is as important as physical health. As stated by the

World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as “a state of

complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the

absence of disease or infirmity.” They also state that “there is no health

without mental health.” During this time of Covid-19 Crisis it is

important to take care of both physical and mental health because they

are dependent to one another together with the other aspects of well-

being.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), “As many as 450

million people suffer from these mental illnesses and nearly one million

commit suicide every year.” In the Philippines around 6 million Filipinos

suffering from depression and/or anxiety, making the country with the

third highest percentage of mental health problems in the Western

Pacific Region. Due to the ever increasing number of people

experiencing this issue, mental health literacy must be addressed to

support the people who seek for help. Recognizing early symptoms

and sign can help prevent suicidal thought and behavior. If children

or young people and their

illness, they are able to create and improve positive approach that can

be used to provide the health care or attention they need.

According to research by Henderson, C., Evans-Lacko, S., &

Thornicroft, G., “The relationship between stigma and discrimination

and access to care is multifaceted; stigma and discrimination can

impede access at institutional (legislation, funding, and availability of

services),6–8 community (public attitudes and behaviors),9 and

individual levels. 10a Descriptive studies and epidemiological surveys

suggest potent factors that increase the likelihood of treatment

avoidance, delays to care, and discontinuation of service use include

(1) lack of knowledge about the features and treatability of mental

illnesses,

(2) ignorance about how to access assessment and treatment, (3)

prejudice against people who have mental illness, and (4) expectations

of discrimination against people who have a diagnosis of mental

illness.”

World Health Organization (WHO) wanted to spread all around the

world that, “There is no justification for excluding people with a mental

illness or brain disorder from our communities.” As stated in the World

Health Report by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland implies that, “Many of us

still shy away from, or feign ignorance of such individuals as if we do

not dare to understand and care”. She also reminded, the adoption of

the United
Nations General Assembly of the Rights of the mentally ill to protection

and care, in this resolution it stated some of the following principles:

- there shall be no discrimination on the grounds of mental

illness as far as possible;

- every patient shall have the right to be treated and cared

for in his or her own community;

- every patient shall have the right to be treated in the last

restrictive environment, with the least restrictive or intrusive

treatment

The stigma and discrimination attached to mental illness can act as a

barrier to people accessing help and must be reduced to improve the

mental health and wellbeing. Breaking stigma and discrimination can

make a difference to help them recover. Mental Health literacy is an

important tool that need to be address to people because it helps to

understand their own mental health, as well as enables them to

increase their resilience and help-seeking behavior.

As stated by the Department of health (DOH) secretary, Francisco

Duque III, “The COVID-19 pandemic has evoked overwhelming

reactions and emotions from people. Many have had their livelihoods

affected, others are worried about keeping their families safe. There

are many reasons why we need to take extra care now when it

comes to
 mental health, we hope that by raising more awareness on the urgency

of this issue, we can inspire more commitment towards helping those

in need.”

III. Access to mental health services must be considered as priority.

In the Philippines, people with mental conditions do not receive enough

medical care and not properly served by the national government’s

mental health programs and services. Health services must be must be

accessible, not only for the people who can afford it, but for all people

who needs it. Health services that will provide holistic, integrated,

friendly services. Quality of health care services must be offered and

deliver so that people can address their health needs. The Mental

Health Act and the Universal Health Care Law, according to Duque,

provide the country the leverage to guarantee that mental health

services are prioritized. However, additional support is urgently

needed. In addition, “Mental health is a human right, it’s time that

mental health be made available for all. Quality, accessible primary

health care is the foundation for universal health coverage and is

urgently required as the world grapples with the current health

emergency, we need to make mental health a reality for all – for

everyone, everywhere,” he stressed.

who can afford it, but for all people who needs it. Quality of health care

services must be offered and deliver so that people can address their

health needs.

IV. Counter Argument

A. The non-existence of mental health illness.

Evidence from source:

Based on the book entitled, The Myth of Mental Illness (1961) by

Thomas Szasz, he said that mental illnesses cannot legitimately be

categorised as diseases. He also rejected psychiatry's misuse of words

like "disease," which he saw as relevant to medicine and its

"physicalist framework," but not to concerns of mind and human

behaviour. After proposing that almost every entity can have a

counterfeit form, Szasz said, “that only physical illnesses are real and

that mental diseases are ‘counterfeit and metaphorical illnesses’”. He

did not dispute that humans have challenges, but he preferred to view

of them as "problems in living," rather than "mental disorders" or

"diseases."

Evidence from source to refute opposing view:

New tools are developed through the emerging technological

advancement in medicine especially in genetics and neuroimaging.

Scientists are making progress in understanding the details of the

Kandel, MD, a Nobel Prize laureate and professor of brain science at

Columbia University, believes it's all about biology. "All mental

processes are brain processes, and therefore all disorders of mental

functioning are biological diseases, the brain is the organ of the mind.

Where else could [mental illness] be if not in the brain?" This position is

also supported by Thomas R. Insel, MD, director of the National

Institute of Mental Health, he stated that, “mental illnesses are no

different from heart disease, diabetes or any other chronic illness. All

chronic diseases have behavioral components as well as biological

components. The only difference here is that the organ of interest is

the brain instead of the heart or pancreas. But the same basic

principles apply."

D. Summary

Mental health is vital to all stages of development in life, from childhood,

adolescence, adulthood to old age. Our emotional, psychological, and social

well- being are all part of our mental health. Mental health is as important as

physical health. Therefore, Health services must provide holistic, integrated,

friendly services and there must be no barrier in accessing mental health

services, because Mental health is essential; we must invest our support to those

people who needs appropriate care. The mental health programs and prevention

are used to improve help-seeking behavior. And improved awareness campaigns

to increase understanding, reduce stigma and eradicate discrimination

surrounding
 mental health. Today, more than apprehension and individualism, unity must be

the top priority, because the threat of mental health problems in our life is not a

joke, with the collaboration within the community and government, we can help

our community became sustainable for living.

E. Works cited

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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543#definition

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