STOP THE STIGMA: MENTAL HEALTH

Group 5 - HUMSS IX started this petition to Youth

The mental health issue in the Philippines doesn't give much publicity and attention. It remains a misunderstood issue. People who are suffering from mental illnesses are often discriminated. A comedian and TV personality Joey De Leon on the noontime entertainment show, Eat Bulaga said "Yung depression gawa-gawa lang ng mga tao yan. Gawa nila sa sarili nila,". It portrays that some Filipinos remains insufficient and incomplete knowledge towards mental health.

Mental health problems can cover a broad range of disorders and these disorders can affect the daily life of the people. Stigma, discrimination, poverty and shame are the reasons why people with mental illnesses refuse to undergo in medications. Mental illnesses might be invisible but it can take a life of a person when it is left untreated.

A study showed that some misconceptions and mistreatments people have towards People with Mental Health Problem (PMHP) are the belief that personal characteristics like self-centeredness and soul-weakness are the reasons for mental health. This results to blaming people with mental health problem (PMHP) and behavior discriminating. Some people also believed that people with mental health problem (PMHP) should not be hired for a job even if they are qualified. This is a clear manifestation of discrimination. Some misconception also includes the fear of being labeled as "crazy", tagging the name of their family thus resulting to hesitation of consulting mental health professionals. Another stigma associated with mental health is invalidating their feelings by commenting "I experienced worse than that". Most of the people think they are helping people with mental health problem (PMHP) but actually is making them feel weaker and helpless. These cases are clear examples of what stigma has done to the public's judgement and prejudices towards people with mental health problem (PMHP), a result of lack of awareness towards mental health.

Our goal is to get more signature and help the non-governmental organization to break the stigma of Filipinos to people with mental health problems (PMHP), to remove the hesitation of the people with mental health problem (PMHP) to seek medical attention, thus reducing the rate of suicide cases in the Philippines. This is an illustration of domino-effect in the mental health awareness in the Philippines- by breaking the stigma means an improvement on the perception of every Filipino towards mental health.

Don't just say "okay" talk to them every day, comfort them and be the reason why they still strong today.

Don't let a bad thought define you, you are unique, you are you, "WE deserve YOU".

Let us join our hand and mind to break the stigma. Contact us and be a part of our movement at stopthestigma@gmail.com

This petition starter stood up and took action. Will you do the same?