EDITORIAL - We should include mental health as well

To make sure that Cebu City residents stay healthy even amid the pandemic, the City Council recently passed an ordinance entitled “Cebu City Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle Program Ordinance.”

Authored by councilors Alvin Dizon and Franklyn Ong, the ordinance requires barangay captains to implement programs that will promote wellness and healthy lifestyles through various activities. We can assume from the wordings of the ordinance that they are encouraging group activities like exercise as well as planting activities, among others.

It also proposes to have a “wellness day” twice a year where free medical services will be offered, including checking of high blood pressure and blood sugar levels, among others.

This is all well and good. After all, physical activity contributes greatly to physical health.

But perhaps we should also include programs for mental health wellness.

It has been well over nine months since the quarantine restrictions began. And while some regulations have been eased or even totally lifted, the social aspect of our lives isn’t just what it used to be. And our social life plays a big part in our mental well-being.

Our mental well-being is often overlooked in favor of our physical well-being. While it cannot be disputed that the latter does contribute to the former, mental health should also be treated differently.

Mental health is still considered largely taboo here. Mainly because admitting to having a problem in this area is seen as a sign of weakness.

However, mental health becomes important during times like these when we are asked to make certain sacrifices over a prolonged period. These are sacrifices that keep us away from our loved ones, from the things we like to do, or the little activities that refresh our state of mind. In other words the things that keep us sane.

The lockdowns brought on by the pandemic in different parts of the world are actually affecting people, to the point that some have committed suicide just to get away from the feelings of anxiety and fear.

Thankfully, we are not at this stage yet. However, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) did recently cite an increase in suicides nationwide, another thing we can attribute to deteriorating mental health.

So, at this point, why not include something to look after our mental health? This will also go far when it comes to our overall well-being.