PROJECT PROPOSAL

Beware: Depression is Real

June 14, 2022
Created by

Name Rufa Mae F. Baid

Address Nilabo, Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte
Phone Number 09353297583
Email Address rufamaeflrs@gmail.com

Submitted to

Name Maginda B. Maylon

Address Brgy. Estaka, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte
Phone Number +63 916 552 0792
Email Address maginda.maylon85@gmail.com

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to growing – and often unmet –

mental health needs. The DOH estimates that at least 3.6 million Filipinos are
facing mental health issues during the pandemic, including depression,
substance use disorders such as alcohol use disorder, and mood disorders like
bipolar disorder. COVID-19 infection in itself has been found to directly impact a
person’s mental health. A recent DOH study found that one of three COVID-19
patients in the Philippines was diagnosed with a mental health condition within
six months of testing positive for COVID-19. Government-mandated lock downs
to prevent the spread of the virus – and associated social isolation – have
exacerbated existing mental health challenges.
Rationale
Several issues regarding health problems in the aspect of mental health is
arising. The most relevant example is depression. Depression is no joke. One
of the cruel things about depression is that it doesn’t need a reason to show up
– sometimes it grabs on without any reason at all. Even with all the knowledge
and readiness in the world, depression isn’t something we can always protect
our teens against – it’s merciless like that – but the more we can understand
and anticipate the risks for our teens, the more we can work to stop depression
from making their path towards adulthood darker than paths were ever meant
to be. The only criteria for depression is being human. Depression is blind and
unbiased and it doesn’t care who it targets – it really can happen to anybody.
For some reason, probably plenty of reasons, depression seems to flourish
during adolescence. At a time when the world starts opening up to our teens,
for too many of them, the world shuts down. Our teens deserve to thrive, and
feel the ‘aliveness’ that comes with the learning and discovery that comes with
the adventure towards adulthood. By being aware of the risk factors for
depression, we can work to limit those risks for our teens as much as we can,
and support their courageous, strong reach into the world.

Program Details
The title of this program is “Beware: Depression is Real”. I decided to create
this program for I observed that many teens from different areas around the
nation have suffered from depression. The demands of friends, family, school,
future (who am I going to be?), sex, alcohol, drugs can be a confusing time.
During adolescence, teens will experiment with their independence from us, as
they look more to their peers for guidance and acceptance. This is normal and
healthy and how it’s meant to be – but it’s hard. They’re travelling down a new
and unfamiliar path, at a time when the drive towards independence will be
pushing them to let go of the guard rails. This means they will be capable of
wonderfully brave things, and they will see the world in new and interesting
ways, but it will also set them up to take risks and feel persuaded to experiment
with things that won’t always be good for them. Taking risks and experimenting
can be a wonderfully brave, life-giving thing to do, or it can create fallout that
can cause breakage. Friendships are vital for teens, but they can be fraught
with heartache. As teens move into adolescence, they can become more
vulnerable to exclusion, bullying and rejection – all at a time when feeling
connected to peers becomes more important than ever. One of the main
developmental goals of adolescence is independence from parents.
With the help of the Republic Act No. 11036, where it is an Act Establishing a
Such behaviour
National Mental can seriously
Health Policyinterfere
for the withPurposea person's personalthe
of Enhancing health, school
Delivery of
performance, security and creating a threatening living
Integrated Mental Health Services, Promoting and Protecting the Rights of environment. Thus, this
program Utilizing
Persons aims toPsycho-social
promote and practice
Health respect
Services, not just Funds
Appropriating limitedTherefor
to the
LGBTQIA+
and CommunityThe
Other Purposes. but state
as well as to women
commits itself toand men. Thethe
promoting 1987 Philippine
well-being of
Constitution under Article 111, Section 1, 2, 4, 8, 12
people by ensuring that; mental health is valued, promoted and protected; states that every person
has the health
mental right toconditions
life, security
areof treated
person and and privacy,
prevented; righttimely,
to be free from torture,
affordable, high
the right to be free from
quality, and culturally-appropriate mental health case is made available to and
arbitrary arrest and detention, discrimination the
the right to freedom of expression, and tlie right to
public; mental health service are free from coercion and accountable to the
service users;promote
To effectively and persons
respect,affected by mental
it is assumed thathealth conditions
the following are will
activity able to
help
exercise the the
in achieving full main
rangegoal:
of human
Respect rights,
for All,and
All participate
for Respect. fully in society and at
work free from stigmatization and discrimination. Thus, I established this
1. Schedule
program a workshop
to address theseabout
Mental Gender
Healthand Sexual Orientation
issues.
Make this workshop a mandatory seminar for all students in order
To toeffectively
help and make promotethemawareness
learn and to all parents
understand and students
the definitions about
of gender
depression,
identity andit is gender
assumed that the following
expression and how activity will helpdiffer
those grounds in achieving
from sexual the
main goal of this project.
orientation.
2. Establish a welcoming and affirming environment for LGBTQ students and
#1:their
Getallies.
Rid of the are
There Stigma
many steps that education leaders and educators can
take to ensure that the school environment fosters a sense of belonging
Oneandof the first and
is safe things that wefor
affirming need to do students
LGBTQ with high and
schoolers is to
families. try toinclude
These get rid
of the stigma
both that is
creating associated with
opportunities for mental illness. Although,
and removing we inclusion.
barriers to cannot getForrid
of example:
all the ill feelings surrounding mental illness we can help students
understand it better by talking about it. Students need to understand that this is
Establishing
very
a real issuegroups, organization
that they or school clubs which specialized in being
can talk about.
a safe zone for the LGBTQ+ students where they can come out safely.
Those who struggle with mental health issues need to know that they are not
alone in these struggles. It is so easy for them to think they are alone in their
issues and that makes their mental health spiral down even more. For those,
who don’t struggle they need to know the signs to better help those who do
struggle. Talking about mental health can get rid of the belief that I need to
suffer through this alone or that I don’t know what to do to help others.

# 2: Taking A Mental Health Quiz

As a starting point with high school students taking a mental health quiz will
help you and them see where they stand on their mental health. They may not
even realize that the issues that are listed on this quiz are part of their mental
health. This quiz is directed at 7-9th graders, but overall this quiz could work for
all grade levels. Once they take this quiz then you can work through lessons
with them that correspond to their answers on this quiz.
#3: The Mental Health Kit

So the same people that put forth the quiz listed in step 2 also have put together a set
of lessons for grades 7-9, but once again many of the topics can work for older
students as well. They call this the Mental Health Kit. For all the grade levels there is
so much useful information that applies to all teenagers not just those in grades 7-9.
Going through these lessons with your students will significantly help them be
informed about mental health for both others and themselves. This is a great activity
to get your students talking about their mental health.

Budget Proposal

PROJECTED TOTAL ₱ 5,400.00

Event Name: Gender and Sexual Orientation Workshop

Items: Projected Subtotal

Workshop Speaker PHP. 2,000.00
Speaker Gifts PHP. 500.00
Decorations PHP. 2,00.00
Snacks PHP. 2000.00
Certificates PHP. 200.00
Manual Book PHP. 500.00

Working Committees

The SSG Head and Representatives are encouraged to be the one to lead this
program at schools and The SK Chairman and Staff if its in the barangay. These
two organizations will work together to make the event successful.

References
Young, Karen. (2017). Teens and Depression – Why Teens Are More
Vulnerable, and the Risk Factors Parents Need to Know About
https://www.heysigmund.com/teens-and-depression-risk/

Republick Act No. 11036. An Act Establishing a National Mental Health Policy
for the Purpose of Enhancing the Delivery of Integrated Mental Health Services,
Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Persons Utilizing Psychosocial Health
Services, Appropriating Funds Therefor and Other Purposes
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2018/ra_11036_2018.html