United in family well-being

LAST February 12 and 13, the Bayanihan for Wellbeing Initiative led by Unilab Foundation Inc. brought us the firstever Filipino Family Wellbeing Virtual Conference. With the theme “Pagsulong ng Pamilyang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pagbabago,” the conference was aimed to open and steer a discussion that offers various perspectives on family well-being.

In 2020, Filipino families went through various challenges brought about by the pandemic and natural calamities, creating drastic changes in family dynamics, such as financial and economic concerns. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 73.5 percent of Filipino households had at least one member of the family experience job loss or workload reduction. This resulted in financial instability, with 85 percent of households experiencing financial difficulty during the pandemic.

In terms of psychological impact, a study, titled “Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic in the Philippines,” showed that a significant percentage, ranging from 13 percent to almost 17 percent of the respondents, rated the psychological impact of the pandemic, its effects on depressive symptoms and anxiety levels, to be moderate to severe. Meanwhile, the National Center for Mental Health noted a significant increase in monthly calls from 80 calls before the lockdown to nearly 400 during the quarantine.

Meanwhile, among the unprecedented social concerns that surfaced during the lockdown is families worrying over their children’s education when schools shifted to online or remote learning. Children who would normally play outside were required to stay within their homes, and adults who have shifted to working from home now had to balance household and career responsibilities, according to a 2020 report by the Humanitarian and Social Research Center.

Family well-being is central to addressing issues associated with these challenges. The National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement defines family well-being simply as the “safety, health and financial security of the whole family,” which encompasses both physical and mental health.

The vision of the Bayanihan for Wellbeing Initiative is for mental health and family well-being to be holistic, inclusive and empowering, targeting particularly families in the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program to join the discussion. The Bayanihan for Wellbeing Initiative is led by Unilab Foundation Inc. through its Heads Up Philippines program with the support of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, Psychological Association of the Philippines, Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Unilab Foundation Executive Director Lilibeth Aristorenas shared: “Months after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many Filipinos still experience the effects of social confinement, financial disruptions, and the burdens of work-life integration.

Amplified by different crises in the past year, these stressors continue to debilitate the youth, families and communities from maximizing their daily life activities.”

“It is in uncertain times like these that mental health and well-being must be put at the forefront to address these stresses. Forming healthy familial relationships not only helps the youth cope with the effects of crises but are also essential in helping them feel love and security, which impacts their brain development and sense of self, and helps them grow up to become confident and resilient individuals,” added Aristorenas.

The two-day conference had sessions that explored the different aspects of Filipino family well-being, raised awareness on its value and the impact on the mental health of the family, which can hopefully build meaningful partnerships and cultivate a culture of family well-being promotion.

There was a panel discussion on the challenges and strengths of the Filipino family. A session was held that tackled how stakeholders can provide a more active role in addressing family well-being; and another session that featured different stories of Filipino families from young couples and single parents to OFWS.

You can watch the sessions at www.facebook.com/ Bay a ni han for well being. You can also support the initiative by donating Bayanihan for Wellbeing Resiliency Play Bags, which encourage children’s creativity and help them express their emotions. For as little as P250, you can help raise a resilient child. More information is available at the Bayanihan for Wellbeing Facebook page.

Let’s all help build a mentally healthy Philippines—one family at a time.