Mental health in COVID-19 time
“The ECQ restrictions have caused much panic for many, creating a sense of despair,” says Majella Tumangan Villaroman, an international health management strategist. “Not only has the lockdown (in Metro Manila) caused a dramatic impact economically, it is a global health concern that makes us realize how vulnerable we all are by not investing in our healthcare system. Of most concern is that with the COVID-19, the social impact of long-term isolation has brought a surge of mental health concerns with increased depression, anxiety, panic, trauma and even leading to suicide.”
The Philippines, according to Majella, passed the Philippine Mental Health Act (RA11036) in 2018 for the purpose of enhancing the delivery of integrated mental health services, and promoting and protecting the rights of persons utilizing psychiatric, neurological and psychosocial health services.
The law establishes the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) to develop the guidelines and implementing rules and regulations of the Act to provide safety mental health measures for all Filipinos, from prevention to crisis on emergency situations, specially for the most vulnerable with mental disorder or mental illness.
Hardly had the implementing rules been drawn up than COVID-19 lockdown was imposed starting from March 15, making the PCMH members “realize more and more that isolation impacts everyone’s mental health and quality human rights need to be in the forefront,” says Majella.
Metro Manila is largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic considering that it is the most highly urbanized areas, especially with the urban poor, says Majella. Quezon City, Manila and San Juan have the highest reported cases. Statistics on the suicide rate cases will be made available and mentioned in a subsequent “From the Stands” column.
For now, here are inputs from Majella. “There are more men that have been affected greatly by the COVID-19 lockdown, primarily as customarily, men are not as communicative as women are. The lockdown creates a long period of isolation, which is highly concerning. Because of the lockdown, there is increased exposure to reported cases of domestic violence, child abuse and rape.
“The mental well-being of women is not adequately addressed in our population. Women become vulnerable precisely because of their risk for discrimination, financial insecurity, social and emotional stress, and lack of access to basic material resources, such as food, clean drinking water, sanitation, and medical care.”
Majella is president and CEO of myCORD Corporation Ph and is with the Commission on Human Rights as lead consultant for the implementation of the Philippine Mental Health Act.
My-CORD is the leading private organization dealing with mental health concerns. My-CORD partners with Business Process Outsourcing, ship lines and cruise lines, financial and pharmaceutical companies in providing employee assistance programs (EAPs) for their employees who may have work-related or mental health concerns that may affect their work performance, financial concerns, health and safety concerns and work-related issues such as job burnout, stress and workplace change. My-CORD stays connected with its clients and takes online face-to-face counseling, coaching, meetings and trainings from anywhere, on any device.
At the start of the lockdown, Majella tells me, my-CORD immediately had multiple requests for briefings and video conferencing seminars on Building Resiliency during the pandemic. It has been conducting outreach to the travel industry which is badly affected economically.
The resiliency seminars conducted via ZOOM are offered as a complimentary module with donations to the Rotary Club of Manila 101 in support of hospital health workers’ families and communities through sustainable urban farming.
The program, according to Majella, builds on 3 Rs: Reacting, Responsibility, and Resilience. Also it advocates SELF care tips. These tips are for Selfcare, meaning healthy eating, exercise, sleep; E for Expressing oneself to family, trusted friends, and joining new groups via FB and viber communities; L is for Loving Others with Losing Oneself, practising selfcompassion and loving kindness, and F is for Fulfillment of self, practicing spirituality especially at this time of COVID-19.
“The lockdown gives us all Hope for a better future, an opportunity to create a new normal,” says Majella.
My-CORD mental health programs include urban farming with the support of the Department of Agriculture’s Secretary William Dar. “With the impact of COVID-19 in our economy and food security, it makes us realize that only will agriculture be an economic game changer. Even in our small way, urban gardening can help alleviate stress and increase our mental well-being.”
Majella sits on the board of the Asia Pacific employee Assistance Roundtable and Global Women for Wellbeing. She has been awarded by the Filipina Women’s Network as a 2018 Most Influential Filipina in the World.
She has a BS in communication from the University of Santo Tomas, an MBA on international entrepreneurship from George Washington University and a certification diploma from Yale on positive psychology.