Mental health at work a major issue

FILIPINOS are facing “financing gap” where savings, current levels of insurance and government health provisions may not be enough to pay for the treatment for critical illnesses, a study found out.

Living Index Survey of Philam Life’s Hong Kong-based parent company AIA Group, which highlights the prevailing health trends, motivations and concerns for individuals and

Life Vice President Kats Cajucom said the study mentioned that 86 percent of Filipinos are concerned about the potential costs of critical illnesses.

“When asked to estimate the cost of treatment for cancer they expect they would have to bear, over 81 percent estimate that the cost

account. For cancer treatment, respondents expect an average shortfall of 75 percent of the costs they would have to bear, she pointed out.

“Across all respondents in the Philip-

is 67 percent and for diabetes, 55 percent of direct costs,” Cajucom said. When asked how they will pay for the - nancing gap, she remarked that 78 percent cited the government while 56 percent said charities or trust.

Only 27 percent said this will be covered by their own personal savings and even lower at 19 percent, by an insurance plan.

For his part, Philam Life Chief Marketing

- ing is consistent with the life insurer’s statistics.

He said that about 87 percent of Philam Life clients are tapping savings and investments products while only 13 percent are availing of protection-linked products.

On a positive note, the study also revealed that the Philippines’ Healthy Living Index ranking went up by 5 points, from 61 to 66, recording the highest increase among all the AIA markets where the study was conducted.

The index is a composite score of satisfaction with one’s health and frequency of practicing healthy behavior based on six key behavior components.

The study stressed that because four of

weight, number of healthy activities done within the past four weeks, hours spent on exercise, and availing of medical check up in the past 12 months, it can be inferred that the notable decline of overall satisfaction on health is indicative of Filipinos’ changing expectations about ideal healthy lifestyles and behaviors as well as changing habits.

incidence among all other cancers in the Philippines. One in every 13 Filipino women is expected to develop the disease in her lifetime.

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the ICanServe Foundation, a breast cancer advocacy group in the Philippines, is promoting early breast cancer detection which encompasses education about breast cancer, breast self-exam (BSE), clinical exam, and mammography. Citing the American Cancer Society, IcanServe suggests women should perform a monthly BSE by the age of 20, schedule an annual clinical exam upon turning 30 and have their annual mammography by the time they hit 40.

“I was lucky because it was detected early,” said Alya Honasan, ICanServe member and veteran writer and editor, who was diagnosed at 49.

Having had regular checks, Alya stopped in 2011 and when she found time again in 2013, her doctor discovered a lump that didn’t look benign.

From the early detection and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Alya successfully completed treatment in ACCORDING to the World Health Organization, the workplace is one of the key environments that affect our well-being and health. Globally, only 9 percent of mental health promotion and prevention programs are focused on the workplace.

“We spend at least nine hours a day at our workplaces. If it’s not a healthy environment for your mind, body and soul, your output

Touch Philippines, a non-stock,

- ing mental health services in the Philippines since the 1980s.

“A recent study conducted by the World Health Organization revealed that the global economy loses up to $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity caused by mental health issues such as depression and anxiety,” Keys said.

In the country, In Touch Philippines has extended help to hundreds of struggling employees through its Employee Well-being Program or EWP.

Among those who have availed of EWP from In Touch Philippines is Havas Ortega. As an organization that belongs to the highly competitive and evolving marketing and communications industry, its employees

-

partnered with In Touch Philippines to help its employee address the dayto-day

A number of treatments for depression are available and Alya found comfort in seeking professional help and therapy. “It also helps that my psychiatrist is a cancer survivor, so we speak the same language.”

Aside from seeking professional help, having a support group around is essential during and after treatment — moms, daughters, and spouses are great point persons. Alya had fellow Bicol native and ex-Marine Ernesto Lozada, aka KuyaKulot, assigned to her by her older brother and who drove her to and from chemo and work just like a true kuya or big brother. “If I’m not done with work by 9 p.m. he would honk the horn repeatedly until I came out of the building. He was quite the disciplinarian challenges that affect employees’ mental health as they do agency work. Through its partnership with In Touch, the organization was able to create its TALK program that provides every employee a dedicated 24/7 Employee Hotline as well as subsidized private counseling sessions.

Also, resource speakers from In Touch Philippine’s pool of professional experts have enabled Havas Ortega to conduct monthly in-house skill builder sessions to educate and empower the workforce on a range of topics such as mental health aware-

“Employees are the most important asset in the company. Here at Havas Ortega, we want to make sure that we look after their health with a holistic approach and that includes putting a premium on mental well-being. At the end of the day, we want to keep them inspired and motivated. We want to ensure them that there is a solid support system to help them keep going,” said Jos Ortega, chief

- vertising industry, Havas Ortega’s internal mental health program became possible through its cohesive partnership with In Touch Philippines.

For more information on In Touch Philippines’ Employee Wellbeing program, call 893-1893 or email intouch@in-touch.org. AtingDibdibin

cancer screening program, launched in 2009 under the auspices of the American Cancer Society and with a

Pfizer’s legacy in breast cancer spans nearly two decades, being a leader in awareness campaigns, advocacy partnerships and pioneering treatments.

“We believe that more than the

develops, our success is also measured by how we are helping rede-

Veronica Prasad, medical manager - pines, said.

Among its latest breakthroughs in research and development is a therapy targeted for specific mutations in

of breast cancer in 10 years. KuyaKulot,