Makati City, Philippines – The awareness about the importance of mental health is on an all-time-high now, as we are more open to talk about our mental turmoils these days compared to earlier decades.  People have started to realize that mental well-being is just as important as any other health aspects, such as physical health, especially when it comes to the young.

One of the most alarming recent statistics reports high prevalence of mental health problems among Filipino children, with 10% to 15% of children aged 5 to 15 affected. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 16.8% of Filipino students aged 13 to 17 have attempted suicide within a year before the 2015 Global School-based Student Health survey. This dire situation highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions.

With these challenges in mind, Unilab Philippines through its advocacy group Heads Up PH, has taken great strides to do its part in uplifting the mental health of Filipinos who need it.

Unilab, Inc. is a leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the Filipino community through its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. With its promise of #AlagangUnilab for every Filipino, they strive to improve the well-being of individuals and families across the nation, setting a standard of trust and reliability in the healthcare industry.

Heads Up PH is the mental health and well-being umbrella program of Unilab Foundation. It plays a pivotal role in addressing the prevalence of suicide and mental health disorders among Filipino youth.

Heads Up PH aims to provide a holistic approach towards building a culture where mental health and wellbeing is within the reach of every young Filipino. The org’s interventions are not solely dependent on psychiatrists or health professionals, but also on empowered members of the community who can be trained and mobilized to respond to mental health concerns, from prevention, detection, to referral.

“These issues have long existed and we are fortunate to have access to information in this day and age. It is Heads Up PH’s goal to communicate scientific and evidence-based information to the community, especially the youth who may either be at risk or can be a force multiplier in spreading awareness through their family, peers, and communities,” said Lilibeth Aristorenas, Executive Director of Unilab Foundation.

Heads Up PH’s sub-programs have pushed partnerships that break the stigma about mental health, and making tangible actions to help persons who are fighting these battles. The sub-programs basically target different age groups of the youth, from elementary to secondary, and even tertiary students. The program enables community-based discussions that promote information about different mental health issues and how to address them. The approach is to highlight the importance of the community that surrounds a person, supporting a person’s undergoing mental health struggles. Comprehensive training, symposiums, and targeted activities are provided to different age groups and members of the community.

Guided by the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support framework, Heads Up PH covers universal and personal preventive interventions, including small group discussions that aid families and communities, as well as focused care and specialized care efforts such as tele-counseling and peer-to-peer engagements.  

#MindYourHealth is a program that empowers local government units to address mental health needs of communities through youth engagement.

One other program is Race Against Suicide which is co-developed by Unilab Foundation and a council of mental health experts. It introduces an evidence-based mental health intervention toolkit that aims to offer a more comprehensive approach to suicide prevention and mental health wellness in schools. The training program equips teachers and parents with the knowledge and skills to efficiently identify and refer individuals at risk of suicide, covering risk assessment to referral.

Crucially, the toolkit has undergone peer review by leading mental health professional associations, including the Philippine Association of Psychologists, the Philippine Psychiatrists Association, the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Philippine Pediatric Society, reflecting a collaborative effort to address this pressing issue.

The training is facilitated by experts such as Dr. Sheila Marie Hocson, a registered Guidance Counselor and Psychologist, and Dr. Kenneth Ross Javate, a medical doctor specializing in Child, Adolescent, & Adult Psychiatry. At the end of the training, participants are empowered to integrate the RACE Toolkit into their schools and practice, with some aiming to adapt it for community-based use further.

Through all the Heads Up PH programs, more than 950 teachers and 80 guidance counselors have taken part in the training. Cumulatively across all sub-programs, around 22,000 students through their schools have participated in mental health and well-being activities online and offline. Heads Up PH has also made available a free toolkit that specifically targets the youth and focuses on developing their ten (10) essential well-being areas to help foster and maintain healthy coping mechanisms through evidence-based and practical activities that could build their resilience in the time of crisis.

Heads Up PH has made leaps in bringing the importance of mental health to the forefront of Filipino society but only by working together. Their efforts highlight the significance of cooperation between the private sector, mental health professionals, educational institutions, local government units, and the communities themselves in addressing mental health risks in the youth. With these initiatives, there is hope for a brighter and mentally healthier future for Filipino youth and the nation as a whole.

Do you want to partner with Heads Up PH or be part of a growing number of volunteers?

Heads Up PH is continuously reaching out to Filipinos and institutions to create a ripple effect that effectively addresses the issues on mental health from the grassroots level. Should you or your organization be part of this movement, visit Heads Up PH’s website and sign up!

If you or someone you know is experiencing crisis, call the National Mental Health Crisis numbers:

Globe/TM:

0966-351-4518

0917-899-8727

Smart/Sun/TNT:

0908-639-2672