Keep your mental health in check

Being healthy is not just keeping yourself fit, it also means taking care of your mental well-being. Keep in mind that there is no health without mental health. Your mental state affects how you think and act in your daily life. Filipinos might be increasingly feeling under pressure and anxious due to the current events happening. If you’re experiencing moments of distress, don’t take them lightly! Built-up stress might lead to anxiety or depression. Make your mental health a priority, too. Perform a simple self-check-up with this list:

Are you productive in your daily routine?

Starting new projects is exciting but it can be a lot of work. When you are feeling overwhelmed by piled-up tasks, you might become less productive. Like your body, your mind needs exercise, too. Being productive allows you to be mentally active and improve your brain's health. Remember that getting work done is not exclusive to having an employer, it could also be chores or a hobby you picked up.

Are you handling pressure with grace?

When your workload is getting to you, schedule a day off. Take a step back and reflect  internally. Effective stress management can help you be more productive at work. It gives you the push to meet future challenges positively. You can identify a quick stress reliever by using your five senses. Examples can be lighting a scented candle (smell), listening to your favorite genre (sound), munching on a snack (taste), a self-massage (touch), or looking at your newly-watered plant (sight).

Are you adopting healthy eating habits?

Munching on a snack once a day is fine, finishing a large bag of chips in one go can be unhealthy.  A diet consisting of greens, fatty fish, and walnuts- to name a few, improves your brain’s health. Think of healthy food as the mind and body’s battery. It recharges you enough to face the day head on. However, eating three times a day does not immediately translate to healthy eating. Moderation is key, so make sure to eat healthy food to gain better mental power and function.

Your mental health should not be compromised in any situation. The Department of Health (DOH) advocates better psychological well-being for Filipinos with its own Mental Health Program. DOH believes that they also have to focus on the mental state of Filipinos if they want to attain the highest level of health for the country.

The department has several accomplishments in the field of mental health like the development of the rules and regulations of RA No. 11036 or The Mental Health Act and establishing the Medicine Access Program for Mental Health. They have capacitated primary care physicians to recognize and manage mental health conditions in the level of the community, so as to better reach those in need at the grassroots level. So, if you are in need of a consult, feel free to visit the nearest rural health unit in your area.

One of Department of Health’s prevailing projects is the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) free crisis hotline, which provides 24/7 assistance to individuals with mental health concerns, most especially those who are in crisis.

For mental health concerns or inquiries, please contact the following:

• NCMH Crisis Hotline - 0917-899-USAP (8727), (02) 7-989-USAP(8727);
• Outpatient NCMH Section - (02) 531–9001 local 290, 0977-244-0200, 0977-244-0202, 0977-244-0215.
• Through Facebook - facebook.com/ncmhcrisishotline;
• Through Twitter - twitter.com/ncmhhotline;
• COVID Hotline - 0949-568-2910, 0966-351-4518.

To know more about DOH’s Mental Health Program, visit their website at https://www.doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-program.