Author: Mind You

Yuri Marshall
CEO at Mind You

The mental health landscape in the Philippines has always been ripe for transformation – even pre-pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (2017), around 6 million Filipinos are estimated to live with depression and/or anxiety, making the Philippines the country with the third highest rate of mental health problems in the Western Pacific Region. The pandemic simply exacerbated these challenges: a study by UNICEF last year showed that 30% of households reported that someone in their household had developed mental health symptoms during the pandemic. With news of new COVID variants and every-changing quarantine protocols, it is understandable that the general mood is one of frustration and ongoing anxiety.

What’s more is that culturally, mental health is still predominantly perceived as ‘taboo’ or a passing trend. The important of ‘resilience’ is ingrained in us at a young age, and this concept is used to almost invalidate the presence of mental health challenges. We tell our loved ones that they should ‘just get over it’, or ‘others have it worse’. It is widely believed that to seek out a therapist, one must already be at their breaking point. The stigma is further reinforced by the socio-economic barriers that still exist, wherein therapy sessions can cost Php3,000 or more, rendering it virtually inaccessible to the general population.

These circumstances painted an eye-opening picture of the work that needs to be done in the Philippines, and brought forth the conceptualisation of Mind You. Our objective is to lower costs, bridge the gap between demand and access to mental healthcare services via tele-psychology, and to de-stigmatize the misconceptions surrounding mental health.

Our current focus is to provide services to organisations. The pandemic has certainly illuminated existing challenges and created new ones in the work space, but we do have some useful mental health tips to recommend. One important tip is to ensure you are forming – and maintaining – authentic relationships. In a time of social distance, it is key that we continue to make meaningful connections with others. Secondly, remember to create healthy work-life boundaries, whatever this may mean in your own circumstances. Finally, consider starting a journal. Journaling allows you to unlock a deeper level of introspection to help you process and acknowledge your challenges. When we can articulate what makes us tick, and what brings us joy, we are better able to equip ourselves with the appropriate coping mechanisms to deal with whatever comes our way.

Ultimately, real inter-generational change will require effort from every level of society, from policy makers to organisations, even down to the individual. Simply opening up to have a conversation about your loved one’s mental health is already a huge step in the right direction. If we can create a society that is more secure and informed, we create one that is more empowered, and we open up ourselves to a future of limitless potential.

Source:

#theNEOway Newsletter October 2021

Available at: <https://mailchi.mp/43fc7f416e68/theneoway-newsletter-7929153>

This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Mind You’s mission in the Philippines. We have grown from 5 original founders to over 50+ dedicated souls who work day and night to help support people’s mental wellbeing and to help save lives.

Last Saturday, some of our Mind You family celebrated its first-year anniversary on a beautiful beachfront estate in the Philippine province of Batangas. The purpose of the getaway was to re-centre our energies and strengthen our culture of contribution, gratitude and passion towards changing the well-being of a nation.

The celebration consisted of a variety of culture building activities such as football, archery, grounding, meditation and life goal-setting. Besides celebrating our annual milestone, it was also an opportunity to ensure that our team continues to practice what we preach.

As a culturally transformative organisation, with a challenging mission to destigmatize attitudes towards mental health, we have been expanding our team and travelling at rocket speeds. It was of paramount importance for us to be highly self-aware and grant ourselves the time and space to build on the meaningful connections we have with one another. We took the time to recharge and rejuvenate in the presence of nature, and to re-focus on our own goals—both work and personal. This week also marks the third year anniversary of the Mental Health Act, a legislation that provided a springboard for Mind You to serve the people and manifest our vision.

The team came away from our company retreat feeling well-rested and more motivated than ever. Our bond to nature and to the nation solidified our endeavour to realise that it is both a privilege and an absolute pleasure that the work we are doing is the most meaningful work of our lives. 

It is quite humbling what Mind You has achieved so far. We now work with 15 different industries, including Retail, BPO, IT, Education, Banking and Finance, amounting to over tens of thousands of employees in total and counting. We have implemented a robust internship program, partnering with three universities and have subsequently hired four student candidates as full-time employees. We are now receiving daily bookings for psychology sessions each month, illustrating that we are slowly but surely reducing stigmas surrounding mental health.

We believe that if we can create a world that feels more secure and a little less afraid, we can brave the tides of life. A life  where mental health is a stronghold as opposed to a weakness, where empathy, compassion, gratitude and patience takes center stage, where we can all truly accomplish our goals and feel fulfilled, in whatever way that is meaningful to you. 

We wish to also acknowledge that we would not be here without the support from business leaders who believe in the importance of mental health and how it affects every aspect of one’s life. We would like to thank them all for their trust, their commitment, and for investing in their employees’ wellness during these unprecedented times. 

Here’s to our life’s best work – and to anyone reading this, we look forward to hearing your story and how you have overcome your challenges. Let’s change our culture together, hand in hand, we can create a safe prosperous nation and take care of each other’s well-being.