#TheLendingHand: Mental Health Awareness and Free Mental Health Care for the

Filipino Youth and Students

PALMERO, Francesca Luz L. - 1MBIO6

Mental health is a serious topic that is often not taken seriously, especially for
students my age and the youth. As someone who has fought with disordered eating and
body dysmorphia for most of my teenage years, I never got the help I needed. Along
with that, everyone thought that I was faking the pain and was “asking for it”, I was
ridiculed for my struggles, and people around me thought that I was “out of my mind” or
was wanting to “remove myself from the world”, and even with that disturbing thought in
their minds, they chose to taunt me more. Right then I realized how light Filipinos take
the topic of mental health, I couldn’t wrap my head around it for it’s something so
dangerous, yet people still choose to make a mockery out of it. And because of that,
throughout my darkest days–I only had myself. Even now with the process of my
gradual healing, I still take my recovery into my own hands. But my mind is made of
porcelain, so strong to have survived all through those years, yet so fragile to have
barely endured all the torment, recovering was hardly ever a straightforward
process. I can fall back down the rabbit hole at any time and no one would take heed
because no one here knows how to aid and abet a person with a potential mental
illness. My mind has been so accustomed to self-deprecating that I find it difficult to
navigate my way to recovery, I am the trigger that’s waiting to happen, yet I was left with
no choice but to deal with everything on my own. Nevertheless, I was one of the lucky
ones. Not everyone had the strength to keep holding on, not everyone was able to deal
with the pain, and not everyone can make it out alive. From January to October 2020,
there were 44 cases of suicides every month in the Philippines; and of the 40 suicide
deaths reported, 23 (58%) were below 30 years old. This disturbing data could be useful
in contextualizing interventions. Students like myself don’t have the right resources to
get professional help, or even if there is such professional help in the country.
Unfortunately, all healthcare is not prioritized by the government, therefore failing to
expand the types of healthcare people will need, especially those of people my age, and
this lack of mental health care for young Filipinos is incredibly deadly. Even though
mental illness is common and can affect anyone, there is still a significant stigma
attached. This stigma creates reluctance and shame in seeking help, and it creates the
boundary in providing mental health care and assistance. The acceptance and
understanding of mental illnesses have come a long way from where they used to be,
but improvements can, and should still be made. 
I, Cesca, am a part of the young Filipino students residing in the Philippines, and
as someone who sees eye-to-eye with those who have struggled with their mental
health and are continuing to fight their own battles–this is now my advocacy; mental
health awareness to all Filipinos and free mental health care for the Filipino youth
and students. I believe that mental health should be a national priority in the country for
there has been a psychological toll on a younger generation that was already
experiencing soaring rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide–especially those under
pressuring and isolating circumstances like online classes, and as long as the
government ignores this major concern, more and more young Filipinos will succumb to
the decline of their mental well-beings. That’s why it is up to us fellow youths to share in
the experiences of those being affected and strive to find a solution for the decline in
this society–which finds mental health inconsequential–and in this economy–which
made the already limited professional help inaccessible, this led me to the cause of
 #TheLendingHand: Mental Health Awareness and Free Mental Health Care for the
Filipino Youth and Students
PALMERO, Francesca Luz L. - 1MBIO6
creating a non-governmental organization which aims to create a safe space for
young Filipinos with mental health problems, and to promote mental health in the
Philippines because we believe that mental healthcare is a fundamental human right
which demands to be protected. This non-governmental organization will be called The
Lending Hand Organization of 2022. This organization is a nonprofitable public charity
which receives a substantial part of its support in the form of contributions from publicly
supported organizations, governmental units, and the general public through the making
of donation drives to be posted on the many social media platforms like Facebook and
Twitter, and/or endowment. This organization will have three goals; (1) to provide free
mental healthcare for the Filipino youth–especially the students like myself, (2) support
currently unemployed mental health professionals, (3) promote the awareness of mental
health and illnesses in schools and local communities. The organization will first
promote its donation drives by sharing our goals and plans for the project, and once we
have reached a considerable amount of donations, we will scout for qualified and
registered public therapists, psychiatrists, and/or psychologists. In the Philippines, there
is a lack of mental health professionals, according to the DOH, there are currently
only about 1,000 psychologists and 600 psychiatrists all over the country. This is due to
the government’s underinvestment in mental health resources along with
underdeveloped services, accounting for the limited slots and job opportunities for
mental health professionals leaving many unemployed and jobless. Through this
organization, those currently unemployed will be given the chance to perform their
specialties and professions on the Filipino youth while funded by the monetary
contribution of the general public, enough for them to make a substantial living. Though
there are quite a few active mental health professionals in the country, it is still made
inaccessible for the people. Along with the persistent shame and stigma surrounding the
topic of mental illness, the other main reason for why people deny access to mental
health care, is cost and unaffordability. In the Philippines alone, a single consultation
with a local psychiatrist can cost up to 4500 pesos which is considered to be a luxury to
the majority of Filipino families all over the country, and the young Filipinos and students
who are in need of professional help are not yet financially independent to afford these
kinds of treatment and care. That’s why with my advocacy, the Lending Hand
Organization aims to offer free mental health care and services to the youth by
introducing to the public our set of mental health professionals. This advocacy
organization recognizes the hesitance that the youth has in getting help, that’s why we
plan to visit various schools all over the country to “lend a hand” ourselves by offering
free consultations and check-ups. Through this advocacy of mine, we will be able to
witness a generation that’s able to vent out their problems and actually receive expert
advice on recovering and doing better, which is something I–and many other youth–
have yet to experience. But a safe community won’t be attained when it is only
understood by those affected, spreading awareness about mental health all throughout
the local communities is as important as offering help for having awareness lessens the
likelihood of shame circulating around the topic; it lessens the stigma. The people
around me ridiculed me for struggling with my eating which took a toll on my already-
deteriorating mental health, which is a threatening occurrence to not only myself but to
more people than we expect. Which is why the Lending Hand Organization or any
active youth mental health organizations should hold barangay and school seminars,
 #TheLendingHand: Mental Health Awareness and Free Mental Health Care for the
Filipino Youth and Students
PALMERO, Francesca Luz L. - 1MBIO6
educating people about mental health and illnesses, and how crucial it actually is to a
single individual. Through this, the country can be a safe space for everyone’s internal
battles, these goals of mine can save many lives, including mine.
When I reminisce about the times when I was struggling the most, crying over
eating ONE loaf of bread for I was over my ideal calorie count which was already so
little, it pains me all over again. I would never want that for anyone else to experience,
but whether I like it or not, it has happened and it will happen to more young people like
myself. It took a lot of courage and perseverance to reach up until this point in my life,
and even after everything, I still can’t say for sure that I have fully healed for I only tried
to survive, I still know nothing about my disorder and how to be freed from it forever.
And I know many people out there feel the same. The advocacy that I have for mental
healthcare and the Lending Hand organization is a manifestation of what I’ve always
needed but never had, that’s why I took it upon myself to be of service to those who
are spending their days alone and their nights crying in their bed because I know what it
feels like. This country may have failed me and countless others who have succumbed
to their demise, but I won’t let it fail anybody else–not the youth, and not the students
who are far too innocent for this world. All I ever asked for was a lending hand, and that
is exactly what I’ll give starting today. This is the Lending Hand Organization.