Putting End to Stereotyping, But Bringing

Awareness About Mental Health

People with mental health issues aren’t crazy at all. Negative perceptions and
incorrect assumptions about mental illness may be as harmful as the disorder itself.
Countless barriers are created by the stigma associated with major mental illness.
Mental illnesses, also known as mental disorders, are indeed a complex topic of
conditions that affect ambiance, thinking, and attitudes. For a long time, it has been
defined as the absence of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
However, mental illness is generally used for all diagnosable mental disorders -
health conditions characterized by changes in mood, thinking, and even our behavior
that is associated with distress and impaired functioning.
Many people suffering from mental illnesses are now fighting to raise
awareness of disorders such as depression and anxiety. The 10th of October is
designated as World Mental Health Day to raise awareness about mental health
issues around the world and to also make every effort to support mental health.
Being mentally healthy is also being physically healthy. Since mental and physical
health is inextricably linked. They are both equally important to a person.
Considering that it is not only made up the health of a human being but also a
person cannot make a progress decently if they are not mentally healthy - and vice
versa. People suffering from mental health issues exhibit a variety of symptoms such
as having little or no energy, pushing people away and withdrawing from regular
activities, losing sleep or the desire to eat, smoking, drinking, or doing drugs, feeling
helpless, yelling, and fighting, losing temper quickly, harming themselves, and many
others.
Amidst the pandemic we are facing right now, we are also facing a mental
health crisis worldwide. Especially here in our country, the Philippines. The rate of
depressed people and suicide has been increasing pretty quickly. All of a sudden,
this has been rather alarmingly to everyone. As reported by ABSCBN News
according to the Department of Health on May 19, 2021, there are at least 3.6 million
Filipinos that are battling mental health issues as the Philippines continues to
grapple with the COVID-19 Pandemic. This has been becoming ubiquitous in the
twenty-first century. Not everyone receives the assistance they require. Although
mental illness is common these days and affects anyone, it still leaves scars -
stigma. Given the fact about stigma, people are still hesitant to accept mental illness.
They are ashamed to admit it and seek medical treatment. For an instance in our
lives, when it comes to renting a home, applying for jobs, and accessing mental
health services, people who are mentally ill face discrimination and prejudice, the
reason being behind this is the stereotypes about mental health. 
 Now that we are in the twenty-first century, social media has been popular
right now. Particularly a lot of teenagers and kids have benefited from it, since we
are in a new normal-where almost everything is done virtually considering the
pandemic. In social media, not only we can make ourselves comfortable and enjoy
most of our time. On the other hand, social media is also where fake news can
usually be seen. And we must be critical in choosing what articles and news to trust.
For this reason that, this can cause stigma, and people to be that not aware of what
truly is mental disorders and how important our mental health is. However, we
should not let stigma and stereotypes create self-doubt and shame for ourselves.
Instead, we must be aware of what mental health is and why is it significant to one’s
health. We do not have to equate and isolate ourselves with our illness. We may
become reluctant to tell anyone about our experiences or our disorder itself but
reaching and letting people know about our disorder because we trust them for
having compassion, being supportive and understanding in our needs, is indeed a
great help to people with illnesses. In support of the youth with mental illnesses, we
should speak out against stigma. We must consider ourselves and exercise our
rights in expressing our opinions. It can be on events or writing an article on the
internet. By reducing the stigma of mental health, we are also spreading awareness
and have helped people with disorders. Moreover, if this is not reduced immediately,
this can lead to further feelings of shame and self-consciousness oneself. In addition
to that, this can create a negative impact on help-seeking as well as the early
detection and prevention of mental disorders. 
Our society's perspective of mental illness needs to be changed. People must
remove the stigma associated with this illness and educate themselves on it. If a
mental illness is not treated at the appropriate time, the consequences can be
severe. Being physically and emotionally fit is essential for success in all areas of
life. People should be aware of the consequences of mental illness and should place
as much emphasis on keeping the mind healthy as they do on keeping the physical
body healthy. Mental and physical health are strongly intertwined. We do not have to
spread awareness about mental health only every 10th of October, but instead, we
must do it every day. To stop the stigma and spread awareness of what mental
health is and why it is significant to one’s health. 

Prepared by:

Hannah Faye Y. Madrona