DOH to public: Reduce stigma vs mental illness

CEBU, Philippines — Three days after a “mentally ill” man beheaded his common-law wife in Consolacion town, the Department of Health (DOH-7) has urged the public to reduce the stigma and discrimination against patients with mental illness.

Dr. Milan Ratunil, medical officer IV of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), said people who are suffering from depression and mental illness most likely prefer to isolate themselves due to rising stigma and discrimination.

“Culturally, sa Filipinos, negative kaayo ang atoang tan-aw sa kaning mga tao nga adunay mental illness. Ang atoang language pirme, usa ra gyod ang atoang term sa mga adunay mental illness mao na ang word nga ‘naboang.’ Well, actually it’s not, it is a mental condition, a diagnosis,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 450 million people currently suffer from mental disorders, placing the conditions among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

Ratunil said there are more than 150 kinds of mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders like autism.

Depression is the most common mental disorder, he said.

Globally, WHO said, an estimated 300 million people are affected by depression. More women are affected than men because they are prone to hormonal imbalance.

Depression is characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, tiredness, and poor concentration. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide.

“To really identify depression, you have to see for the duration, if you felt it for more than two weeks apil na ang uban symptoms ani niya then it’s better to seek medical help,” Ratunil said, adding that patients could be treated with medication and other interventions for six to 12 months.

Moreover, Ratunil has also urged the families of individuals who have mental problems to seek consultations for proper diagnosis.

Mental disorders, he said, can be cured through various interventions, such as consultations, counseling, and medication. 

Ratunil has emphasized the importance of mental health awareness to address the stigma against mentally deranged people.

“We would like to broaden the awareness and information sa mga Pinoy with regard to mental illness. For most of the time, that is a health issue. Dili siya angay kahadlokan or layoan instead atoang tabangan because that is actually the one thing that we can do as human beings,” he said.

“We need people who understand and listen to them. We should listen not only with the ears but with the heart,” he added. (FREEMAN)