Mental Health Crisis: A Silent Killer
By: Cherry Beth S. Gabuyo
Many people have been silently dying inside because of the turmoil that cannot be muted
in their minds. It is a state of perplexity where a human heart cannot understand what is
happening to him/her.
According to the Stand for Truth by GMA Public Affairs, 1,115 already called the crisis
hotline of the National Center for Mental Health in the midst of pandemic. 115 are suicide
related calls with an average of 53 per day. Also, 2 out of 10 Filipinos suffer from a major
depressive disorder.
This was supported by World Health Organization (WHO) for stating that 800,000 die
globally every year because of depression.
What is Mental Health Crisis?
Mental health crisis is a situation where a person’s behavior leads her into harming
herself. Self-injury is the effect if someone is going through agitation and inner-battles in life.
Thus, it is the hardest to cure because no one can help you but yourself.
What are the Warning Signs?
Uncontrolled negative thoughts, repressed pain, trauma, conflicts, failure, being
misunderstood, unending problems, loss of loved ones, broken family and relationships,
judgments, bullies, abuse, eating disorder, insomnia, feeling isolated and overthinking are just
some of the signs of depression. If this depression is not handled properly, this leads to suicidal
tendency.
This mental health crisis was even more augmented since lockdown. Many lost their
works and businesses. Many experienced hunger and intense poverty. Many were afraid to go
out and be infected of the highly contagious COVID 19. Many were depressed for being
quarantined for 14-21 days. Many suffered from mental breakdown because of friends and loved
ones passing away due to COVID without even seeing them because of the restrictions for the
safety health protocols. In an instant, this pandemic changed our usual lives. And this is the newnormal.
Thus, the augment of mental health crisis amidst pandemic also increased the number of
people committing suicides. There were even students who were reported in national news for
ending their lives because of the hardship of coping with the new normal education.
Indeed, ending one’s life is the only option when the above-mentioned struggles were not
given solutions. It is because depression negatively affects how you think, how you feel and how
you act and it is more than a feeling. It is not a temporary sadness which vanishes after you
sleep.
How to Cope with Mental Health Crisis?
No amount of alcohol and sleep can diminish depression. That is why we should give
equal importance of treating mental health with physical health.
As stated by Dr. Gia Sison, Adviser of Youth for Mental Health Coalition, support
system is essential for someone going through depression. Listening to understand is more
important rather than reacting to someone’s struggles. Because sometimes, the ones who are
suffering feels being invalidated if we react right away to their situations.
According to her too, coping mechanism differs to individuals. Others prefer exercise,
journaling, listening to good music, praying, hiking, drawing and more just to alleviate their
struggles.
Aside from having listeners and coping mechanisms, it is also best to consult doctors
offering mental health services such as counseling, consultation, psychotherapy, neuro-psych
assessment, psychological assessment and more.
The stigma that mental health crisis is just for rich people is being eradicated because it is
now normalized and is given more emphasis that there are professional helps for the suffering
ones. Besides, Republic Act No. 11036 was passed to “establish a national health policy for the
purpose of enhancing the delivery of integrated mental health services”.
Truly, many people have been silently dying inside because of the turmoil that cannot be
muted in their minds. But before they die, let us reach out to them and give them hope. Listen to
them. Pray for them. Do not ever let the silent killer silently kill them!