When we see mental health depicted in popular media, it often features an anxious patient in the warm office of her psychiatrist, in a space far separated from the day-to-day world that one is used to. Several months into quarantine, however, the reality is much closer to one’s home than their mental health professional’s clinic, as many are forced to sequester themselves in isolation due to quarantine measures. As a result, mental illnesses are experiencing a meteoric rise during this quarantine. In response to this the World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization, United for Global Mental Health, and the World Federation for Mental health have all begun calling for a global movement to invest in mental health.

Investing in mental health

When we think of the word investment, it is often attached to an object of financial significance that we seek to protect for years to come. In particular, psychiatrist from The Medical Department of Psychiatry and Vice President of the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA), Dr. Luzviminda Katigbak says the most precious thing we need to invest in is not a tangible object; rather, it is our mental health.

“When we say invest in mental health, the meaning of that is primary prevention. When we invest, it’s not about treatment or cure anymore. We invest so we can prevent mental health and disorders,” says Dr. Katigbak. Especially in such an uncertain time, many have slowly fallen into pits of despair as the period of uncertainty goes on, it is vital that professionals are more proactive than reactive in the ways that they treat mental illness.

According to Dr. Katigbak, the term investment allows for mental health to become a more manageable concept. “When we say invest, people put a high value on it. Investment has a return, just as taking care of your mental health does.” As one takes care of their mental health, one’s interactions with their family and work can increase and make them a productive member of society. By thus treating mental illnesses as something we can protect in the long run, we are able to prevent the onset of anxiety, depression, and other intense emotions.

This more proactive approach to mental health continues the momentum that the community has been experiencing prior to the pandemic in a much more tangible way. As information surrounding mental health becomes more widespread, individuals have been increasingly less likely to shrug off their problems, especially if they have no prior experience with mental illness.

The movement towards a better society

Like a broken leg or the flu, one’s state of mind can very much affect how they live their day-to-day existence, Dr. Katigbak reminds us. As the world remains in a pandemic, the limits and resilience of many have been tested, shaken, and overturn many times over. While depression and anxiety are normal responses to situations such as these, the length of time we have endured in this pandemic will most likely have a deeper impact on the mental health of many. As such, Dr. Katigbak proposes that we become more aggressive in how we talk about mental health issues.

While the information surrounding mental health is much better than it was a decade ago, many things still need to be done to spread more awareness. A commitment of many mental health care professionals has thus been to bring their advocacies to different seminars, workshops, and lectures which aim to teach others about the specifics of different ailments. By fitting these events into their schedules, Dr. Katigbak says health care professionals are able to take a much more proactive approach to mental health care

“While there is still definitely a gap, technology is on our side,” says Dr. Katigbak. In the past, traffic and travel were barriers for individuals to seek help from mental health professionals, one may now only need a gadget and internet connection to have access to proper care. This, according to Dr. Katigbak, has shown a significant increase in consultations and the spread of mental health awareness. This has been vital as there are many who still haven’t been able to seek help or are currently experiencing relapses.

What we can do

To manage one’s mental health, a general suggestion that Dr. Katigbak gives is to exercise as this increases what she calls “happy hormones”. This may be done regardless of one’s living conditions, as one need only be creative and innovative to do exercise routines. An example would be to climb your condo’s stairwells as a means to exercise. Another thing one can do is to take breaks and to breathe in between tasks when one stuck to their desks and computers. This can very much ease one’s mind from feeling overwhelmed amidst all the work that needs to be done.

Dr. Katigbak also mentions that while we may be physically isolated, we must not be socially detached. As such, we must try to connect with people or reach out to those who may need a connection. Examples of people who need this the most are the elderly. “It is incumbent of younger people to look after the mental health of older people,” says Dr. Katigbak as many older generations may not have immediate access to professional help in the same way young people do. Things the youth can do are to install apps in the gadgets of their grandparents or send them webinars that they can view.

By taking these proactive steps and educating others about what can be done to help one’s mental health, one can help both themselves and those around them. This pandemic has shown that mental health can be fragile especially in such a precarious time. These don’t need to be grand things, rather little everyday actions that can help us stay healthy in this pandemic, says Dr. Katigbak. By investing in mental health, we can prevent the onset of ailments and encourage a much healthier society.

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This article was written by Alexandra Goño, writer/contributor to Rappler and Town and Country Philippines.