Awareness of mental illness
By candy111
@candy111 (240)
Philippines
August 26, 2007 6:12am CST
I wonder how many people in the Philippines know about Mental Illness and/or psychiatry. What if a friend of yours told you they were seeking professional help for depression, etc, how would you react, not only to the person seeking a psychiatrist but also having a mental illness?
What would be the first thing you would ask/say to this person?
Have you ever made the comment "Hey, there are people out their who have worst problems than yours, just let go of it?" then wonder why the person reacts to it?
I'm asking this because surprisingly, when i tell people that I am seeing a psychiatrist for an illness they stare at me as if they cannot comprehend the thought. I live in a family or doctors and even they find it so weird.
2 people like this
5 responses
@AmbiePam (92821)
• United States
26 Aug 07
I'm sorry that you experience such prejudice, even in today's society. I am not familiar with the culture of the Philippines, so I can't speak from any sort of knowledge in that area. I have heard the statement that there are people out there with worse problems than yours. And that is totally wrong for people to say in cases like your own. I don't doubt other people have it worse, but does knowing that make your own problem better? So what if someone is worse off, that doesn't make your issue any less legitimate. You are experiencing real issues, and your pain is important. For someone not to realize that and honor that, is a shame not only to you, but to other people who are affected adversely to this attitude.
@candy111 (240)
• Philippines
2 Sep 07
Sadly, people are just not "aware" of what it is like to be depressed or mentally ill. Sometimes, I tell my psychiatrist for one entire day, I wish people would experience depression; I feel people would actually treat others better once they have truly experienced it. For most, depression is no different from sadness, which is not the case at all, but its also not so easy to explain. Of course you also have the other people that say, ohh, you can think it away. Yeah right!
@candy111 (240)
• Philippines
2 Sep 07
you are a psychologist from UP, kourty? Wow, I should tell my psychiatrist to go back to his college and teach students a bit more on the mental illness rates in the Philippines, and the causes. It is true, they are now finding or attempting to find genetic predisposition to mental illness but they have not pinpointed any. There is now an entirely new (not the concept per se but the thrust) field known as biological psychiatry, where they are trying to identify specific structures in the brain and the neurotransmitter system that is affected in the different kinds of mental illnesses. But, yes this is just one aspect, the other you mentioned, environment, upbringing, experiences, etc etc. Nature vs Nurture as people would still argue.
@sirus14 (97)
• Taiwan
2 Sep 07
I don't know it fully nor understand it clearly.But im aware that many people in Phils. are depressed,Everyday from the news you see that those people seem to have mental illnesses doing crazy things of countless sort.
For what is normal? those people who are not minding life and others', those living like children and are not exposed to the pressures of change.(or of those things gone wrong).
And on the other side, those who are learned and fnally in control of the things around.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
26 Aug 07
I really believe that its in our culture that going into psychiatrist means that your crazy. Which I think is not right. Its true that family bond is still very much strong in our country. that is why when a person does undergo depression every family member tries their best to help that person to overcome their problem. but there are certain cases that a psychiatrist is needed. Some say psychologist, some says its counselors. Those kind of problem is indeed very rare in our country or is not yet openly acceptable to this day.
@tuffy999 (794)
• Philippines
27 Aug 07
depression is in our midst. the haves and have nots are prone to it. it's just that our society in general is in total denial. just by the admission of seeking professional help is shun upon by most. it's beyond acceptance that how can it happen when one is surrounded by strong family support. but time has changed, the demands of survival is far greater then before. it's time to accept that we are not exempted by this ailment. we have to open our eyes to this reality.
1 person likes this
@yesah65 (157)
• United States
26 Aug 07
Running to a "Shrink" everytime something doesn't go right, is a good indication that you can afford to do so. From what I saw in the Philippines, most people can't afford to go, even if they felt compelled to...sooo, they stay home and work it out the best they can.
