To become a healthy person, one should make sure that he attends to the needs of his own body holistically. When we say holistically, this is a way of taking care of the body as a whole, not just the physical body but also the spirit and mind, to create a balanced life. Someone may be physically fit, socially active, and spiritually fulfilled but suffers from mental illness. Then, we cannot ultimately say that he is a healthy person because he could not address his body's needs mentally, and balance is not achieved. Nowadays, people tend to overlook the importance of good mental health, especially here in the Philippines. In a report by the World Health Organization in 2014, The Philippines had 2,558 cases of suicide deaths due to mental health problems in the year 2012 alone. These figures had risen until 2019 in which according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were 2,808 recorded deaths by suicide. It got even worse by 2020 with a 25.7% growth than the previous year where PSA had recorded 3,529 cases. With that said, if mental health is not prioritized, death cases related to mental health problems would not cease to increase, and individuals suffering from it would not be given the right to live. People do not talk about mental health here in the Philippines more often because of the thinking that it is a bizarre topic and the culture that we have emphasizes an environment of humor and resiliency amidst pain and suffering when in reality, they lack the knowledge about mental health and just the existence of stigmas makes it even worse. In a qualitative study by Tanaka et. al., (2018), stigma experienced by people with mental health problems, including epilepsy in the Philippines has been brought up. They said that the participants, which were the community health volunteers, caregivers of people with mental health problems, and the people with mental health problems, including epilepsy, themselves pointed out that they experience stigma due to cultural perspectives such as the concept of mental illness as a family disease. Stigmatizing attitudes toward people with mental illnesses are frequently expressed through comedy or hatred, while media portrayals of them are frequently associated with harm and misconduct (Rivera et al., 2017). The stigma of having mental health illness as humor and should not be taken seriously makes it even worse because of the derogatory terms used in casual conversations such as "baliw" or "abnoy". This just proves that Filipinos have simplistic minds and insensitive stigmas with regard to mental health problems. Stigma in mental health is an immense barrier to keeping an individual and a community healthy. It would result in a great deal of negative impact not only to individuals suffering from mental illness but also on society. Stigma affects the willingness of people having mental problems to seek professional help. When this happens, their situation could worsen and lead to a more dangerous feeling of demoralization and decreased self-worth and self-efficacy. This could also affect their way of living. It could compromise their work and social activity with other people. As aforementioned, it could affect the society because promotion and development of mental health programs in the Philippines would not be paid attention to and in the allocation of funds. Making of lawsuits to protect people with mental health problems and could be a hindrance in psychiatric researches because it would be difficult for the researchers to find data or patients to volunteer concerning the mental health problem that they are trying to seek treatment from. Interventions aimed at reducing stigma have been integrated into the community by raising awareness among children in schools, promoting inclusivity in the workplace, promoting that seeking professional help is not something to be ashamed of. Also maximizing the use of media to share information about mental health and how to deal with people who have it, similar to how it is done in the United States. They also have a month dedicated to mental health awareness, which takes place in May but is constantly discussed and shared. Mental health should also be taken seriously in the Philippines, rather than being dismissed and mocked. REFERENCES Rivas, R. (2021, March 17). Suicide cases rise in PH as pandemic drags on. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/suicide-rises-philippines-pandemic-drags-on-2021 Rivera, Ana Kriselda & Antonio, Carl. (2017). Mental Health Stigma Among Filipinos: Time For A Paradigm Shift. Tanaka, C., Tuliao, M. T. R., Tanaka, E., Yamashita, T., & Matsuo, H. (2018). A qualitative study on the stigma experienced by people with mental health problems and epilepsy in the philippines. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1902-9 Tugade, R. (2017, April 25). We need to talk about mental illness in the Philippines.CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/04/25/mental-illness-stigma.html

Mental health is a controversial subject that frequently separates perception. Many people claim that mental health is not as important as any other issues, for instance, economic conflicts, political issues, etc., and state that mental health is just all in your head and you should learn how to control it on your own. In the Philippines, mental health is given less significance, regardless of the increasing rate of children and adolescents being affected by it. Lally et al. (2019) stated that the mental health services in the Philippines have remained inconsistent, especially when conveying information to others. The currently implemented act on Mental health provides the opportunity for providing coherent and holistic mental health services and that being said, several problems arise in delivering efficient and cost-effective mental healthcare, only 3-5% of the total budget is spent on mental health problems and 70% are spent in the hospital care. They have mentioned that in 2005, 10 075 participants answered the World Health Survey in the Philippines and that 0.4% of the participants were diagnosed with schizophrenia and 14.5% were diagnosed with depression and only 32.3% of the diagnosed schizophrenia were being treated, and 14% with depression. Lastly, since the Philippines lack mental health workers, professionals, and doctors and has weak community mental health services, they have suggested that public revenues are frantically recommended to fix the professional development and recruitment of psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other interdisciplinary team members, particularly as a large number of skilled professionals insist on continuing to move abroad. Another study by Maravilla & Tan (2019) stated that Filipino beliefs about mental health such as anxiety and depression are non-existent and something that one should be ashamed of having. The qualitative study of Tanaka et. al (2018) mentioned that this stigma of mental health is thought to be the result of cultural attitudes of mental disorders, which are divided into three categories: Familial Problems, which states that the family disowns its members with mental health disorder due to their belief that it can be genetically transferred. Unrealistic Pessimism and Optimism mean that the person with mental health disorders can either suffer from a chronic cognitive disability or are strong enough to overcome any mental distress on their own. Lastly, Oversimplified Chronic Course where people who do not have mental illnesses pertain a severe illness concept to someone who is unwell and anticipate a complete recovery in the brief period and because of these, the mental health in the Philippines are given less importance by the government and other public sectors, the Philippine government does not also provide economical support for organizations that aims to break the stigma in mental health and help the people with severe mental health disorder the treatment that they deserve. Maravilla & Tan (2021) also states that mental health issues have become the third most common disorder/ disability in the Philippines, i.e. 6 million Filipinos are suffering from depression and anxiety, making the Philippines the third-highest rate of mental health in the Western Pacific. It was also stated in the study of Hakulinen et al. (2020) that people with a serious mental disorder had substantially lower levels of productivity before, and especially after, their disorder's diagnosis. Filipinos are usually displeased, not only for economic strife (i.e. unemployment, low income, etc.) but more because of pressure and expectations from family and society. Lastly, they have mentioned that the Philippine Mental Health Act is really nothing more than a "deceptive ordinance". Nonetheless, they believed that there is still hope that the mental health issues in the Philippines will be recognized as a significant and essential need to improve the quality of life and the economic system. Due to the lack of support and the stigma in mental health, Filipinos who are affected by a severe mental health illness prefer not to seek help from a professional and would rather ask help from close friends or family. In the study of Martinez et al. (2020) Filipinos became reluctant in seeking mental health treatment, primarily because of the expense that underlies the treatment and assumes that there are other significant matters that they need to focus on. Another reason for not seeking treatment is because of the social stigma that comes from every mental health disorder and also because of fear of losing face, a perception of disgrace, and compliance to Asian values of complying with social rules in which mental illness is viewed as unacceptable. They also stated that Filipinos only seek professional help when the illness is too severe for a family or close friend to handle and have suggested that Filipinos should also give significance to their well-being and should know that seeking mental health treatment can have a better impact and quality of life. Seeking mental health treatment does not imply weakness but rather a courage, because of how someone is strong enough to acknowledge that they are not okay and that they need help to become better. Resources: Estrada, C. A., Usami, M., Satake, N., Gregorio, E., Leynes, C., Balderrama, N., Fernandez De Leon, J., Concepcion, R. A., Tuazon Timbalopez, C., Tsujii, N., Harada, I., Masuya, J., Kihara, H., Kawahara, K., Yoshimura, Y., Hakoshima, Y., & Kobayashi, J. (2020). Current situation and challenges for mental health focused on treatment and care in japan and the philippines - highlights of the training program by the national center for global health and medicine. BMC Proceedings, 14(S11). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-020-00194-0 Hakulinen, C., Elovainio, M., Arffman, M., Lumme, S., Pirkola, S., Keskimaki, I., et al. (2019). Mental disorders and long-term labor market outcomes: a nationwide cohort study of 2 055 720 individuals. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 140, 371–381. doi: 10.1111/acps.13067 Lally, J., Tully, J., & Samaniego, R. (2019). Mental health services in the Philippines. BJPsych International, 16(03), 62–64. https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2018.34 Maravilla, N. M. A. T., & Tan, M. J. T. (2021). Philippine mental health act: Just an act? A call to look into the bi-directionality of mental health and economy. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.706483 Martinez, A. B., Co, M., Lau, J., & Brown, J. S. L. (2020). Filipino help-seeking for mental health problems and associated barriers and facilitators: a systematic review. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(11), 1397–1413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01937-2 Tanaka, C., Tuliao, M., Tanaka, E., Yamashita, T., and Matsuo, H. (2018). A qualitative study on the stigma experienced by people with mental health problems and epilepsy in the Philippines. BMC Psychiatry 18:325. doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1902-9 Zartaloudi, A., & Madianos, M. (2021). Stigma is related to asking for help from a mental health professional. JHeS (Journal of Health Studies), 5(1). https://doi.org/10.31101/jhes.2105

It is undeniable that the COVID-19 Pandemic has a significant effect on our lives and massive changes in our daily routines. Our new normal consists of online classes lack physical contact, and many chances to use social media to ease our boredom. However, a study by Hunt et al. (2018) stated that there is an association between the use of social media and poor outcomes on physical and mental well-being, which is why a social media detox might be what you need to take care of your mental health. So why do we need to take a break from using social media? A study by Pantic et al. (2012) shows that too much use of social media correlates with increased depression and a negative impact on self-esteem. This is because we often compare ourselves and envy things that we see on social media, such as the freedom to walk around without masks or face shields or people who can travel and take vacations. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for us to see toxic behaviors on social media, such as trolls and fake news, which is why it is also vital for us to get the news from reputable sources to avoid unnecessary anxiety and panic. Lastly, our mental health is not the only aspect that social media is affecting, as it affects our physical health too. A study by Nasirudeen et al. (2017) found that heavy usage of social media could negatively affect sleep quality as it can cause vision problems and headaches. Finally, we must look after our mental health, especially now that we spend most of our time isolated at home. Detoxing from social media can be difficult at first. However, we should make mental health a higher priority in order to avoid unneeded tension, anxiety, and panic and to maintain a healthier mental state. REFERENCES Hunt, Melissa & Young, Jordyn & Marx, Rachel & Lipson, Courtney. (2018). No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 37. 751-768. 10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751. Pantic, I., Damjanovic, A., Todorovic, J., Topalovic, D., Bojovic-Jovic, D., Ristic, S., & Pantic, S. (2012). Association between online social networking and depression in high school students: behavioral physiology viewpoint. Psychiatria Danubina, 24(1), 90–93. Nasirudeen, A. M. A., Lee Chin Adeline, L., Wat Neo Josephine, K., Lay Seng, L., & Wenjie, L. (2017). Impact of social media usage on daytime sleepiness: A study in a sample of tertiary students in Singapore. DIGITAL HEALTH. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207617699766

According to the American Psychological Association, introverts lean toward their internal private world rather than toward the outer world of people and things. They are the ones who enjoy spending time on their own or with very few people rather than being with a large crowd. Contrary to extroverts who experience a boost in mood after social interactions, introverts tend to get tired of it (Edward-Elmhurst Health, 2020; Cherry, 2021). Now that there’s a pandemic, classes are suspended, work is done at home, meetings are done virtually, and people are compelled to stay at home. Gyms, restaurants, bars, malls, and cinemas are either closed or can only accommodate a few people. Therefore, it’s easy to assume that introverts are having the time of their lives during the pandemic where there is social isolation. Theories about the Extroversion-introversion traits have been around in psychological literature for over 100 years. Extroversion-introversion is an established personality dimension that is a part of the Five-Factor Model of personality traits. The higher pole of this dimension describes extroverted personality traits that include sociability, assertiveness, and cheerfulness while the lower pole includes introverted qualities of being quiet and reserved (Matthews, 2019). It is important to understand that this dimension is a spectrum and personality traits are more complex for introverts or extroverts to be purely one or the other. Personality traits play an important role in determining how well we will cope with difficult situations such as quarantine and self-isolation. However, there are many other factors that contribute to this such as several demographic factors, employment status, physical health, and mental health. Are Introverts Enjoying Quarantine? For some introverts, the answer may be yes, but the longer we live in quarantine, the more research studies find otherwise. The pandemic ensues a huge adjustment for everyone, and introverts are more associated with adjustment problems (Robinson et al., 2010; Davidson et al., 2015). Even if introverts tend to enjoy spending their time on their own, they have their families living with them in their homes. For years, members of the family are used to spending most of their day at work or in school. Now, they’re staying at home and dealing with each other every day. For introverts who are not used to full-time interaction, staying at home with others places a burden on them as they can’t actually have time alone (Olheiser, 2020). Additionally, trying to balance personal life, work, and raising children are causing stress to parents. A study conducted during the pandemic also found that living with others was associated with experiencing more cognitive impairments and anxiety as compared to living alone. In the same study, results showed that introversion predicted more severe loneliness, anxiety, and depression (Wei, 2020). Given that introverts tend to get tired from social gatherings, having the need to meet people online may actually be worse for them. Online meetings are found to be more exhausting than meeting face-to-face. In the absence of several non-verbal cues, online calls require more intense focus and sustained eye contact (Baumann & Sander, 2020). While silence is natural and oftentimes comfortable when people are together, silence during online meetings tends to be more awkward and makes people anxious. As a result, people have to exert more effort to engage with each other and appear more interested. It is also important to understand that introverts do not want zero socialization and they also need some social interaction (Tuovinen et al., 2020). For extroverts who tend to be more flexible and creative when it comes to socializing, this may be easier. However, introverts tend to be less flexible when it comes to thinking of ways to connect with people, causing them to be even more isolated. Excessive isolation is an unhealthy behavior that may lead to loneliness. Loneliness can make people more vulnerable to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and addiction (Mushtaq et al., 2014). The idea that introverts are coping better compared to extroverts can actually be very dangerous. Not only would this cause people to neglect those who they know are introverts, but this also adds pressure to the introverts themselves to feel okay during this pandemic. Like extroverts, introverts need other people too and to have a strong support system during this difficult time. It is also important for introverts to become self-aware if they are isolating to give themselves time to relax and reenergize or if they are doing it out of depression or anxiety. If they are doing it because of the latter, then it may be good for them to seek help from professionals to protect their mental health. References: Baumann, S. & Sander, E. (2020). 5 Reasons Why Zoom Meetings Are So Exhausting. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/5-reasons-why-zoom-meetings-are-so-exhausting-137404#:~:text=So%20why%20are%20online%20meetings,sustained%20eye%20contact%20is%20exhausting. Cherry, K. (2021). 5 Personality Traits of Extroverts. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/signs-you-are-an-extrovert-2795426 Davidson, B., Gillies, R. A., and Pelletier, A. L. (2015). Introversion and medical student education: challenges for both students and educators. Teach. Learn. Med. 27, 99–104. doi: 10.1080/10401334.2014.979183 Edward-Elmhurst Health. (2020). How introverts and extroverts are handling the pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.eehealth.org/blog/2020/06/introverts-extroverts-during-pandemic/ Matthews, G. (2019). Extraversion-Introversion. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809324-5.21765-3 Mushtaq, R., Shoib, S., Shah, T., & Mushtaq, S. (2014). Relationship between loneliness, psychiatric disorders, and physical health? A review on the psychological aspects of loneliness. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 8(9), WE01–WE4. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/10077.4828 Robinson, O. C., Demetre, J. D., and Corney, R. (2010). Personality and retirement: exploring the links between the big five personality traits, reasons for retirement, and the experience of being retired. Pers. Indiv. Differ. 48, 792–797. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2010.01.014 Spinelli, M., Lionetti, F., Pastore, M., & Fasolo, M. (2020). Parents’ Stress and Children’s Psychological Problems in Families Facing the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01713

Mental Health in the Philippines: Addressing the Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic The Effect of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic altered the course of history. The spread of the virus, which resulted in multiple cases in every country, shook the world. Since then, the outbreak seems to have had an impact on everyone's lives, particularly those in the medical field. Workers in the medical field are putting their lives on the line to stop the virus from spreading further. Individuals from many countries are anxious or stressed as a result of the drastic changes in their lifestyle brought on by the lockdowns, implemented by the government. The Philippines has been a high-risk country in the COVID-19 virus outbreak since the virus impacted every country in the world (Duddu, 2020). In order to stop the virus from spreading further, lockdowns and new rules/laws were implemented. Due to a large number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, many healthcare personnel have requested assistance in obtaining extra medical resources (e.g. hospital beds), as most of the equipment and beds now in use are already taken by other COVID-19 patients. This puts healthcare workers under stress since they lack the necessary equipment to help all of the patients who require immediate attention. Mental Health of Filipinos During the Pandemic COVID-19 has had an impact on everyone's lives. With all of the changes and problems that everyone has faced, both adults and children have become anxious, overwhelmed, and have experienced very powerful emotions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). There are different actions that have been made in every country by their government in order to raise awareness about the rise of mental health illnesses in their country. During the World Suicide Prevention Day in 2020, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) raised awareness about mental health wellness. The Department of Health teamed up with the World Health Organization to improve public awareness about mental health, especially during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (DOH, 2020; Maramag, 2020). The number of calls to the mental health hotline due to reasons of depression has increased since the pre-lockdown period, from only 80 calls to nearly over 400 calls (NCMH, 2020). Individuals who have been referred to the mental health hotline range in age from 15 to 29 years old. Apart from COVID-19-related mortality, mental health-related deaths have been the second leading cause of death in this age range. This simply goes to prove that the Philippines needs more programs or discussions to try to break the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health, particularly seeking treatment (DOH, 2020; Maramag, 2020). Teleconsultation for Mental Health The spike in mental health hotline calls is concerning; since the pandemic began, a large number of people have sought expert support through online consultations. Because face-to-face counseling in hospitals might be dangerous, teleconsultation or internet consultation has taken its place to assist persons suffering from mental health illnesses. There are a variety of free teleconsultations available now for anyone who needs assistance or is unsure about how they are feeling. However, some people may find it unsettling to consult with a doctor via online chat or video chats (Ku, 2020). Aside from that, many Filipinos do not have access to the internet, making it difficult for them to seek online help for their mental health. Projects/Programs for Mental Health Intervention in the Philippines They have established a multi-sectoral approach for mental health with programs and treatments in many settings (e.g., workplace, school, etc.) aimed at the high-risk population, thanks to the collaboration between the DOH and WHO (2020). Another product of this collaboration is the National Center for Mental Health's crisis hotline called Kamusta ka? Tara usap tayo, which was published in May of 2019.. This hotline is open 24/7. Another one is from the UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsychServ) (University of the Philippines, 2020), which provides free counseling through phone calls for front liners. In addition, the Mental Health Act (RA 11036) authorizes the efficient and effective delivery of suicide prevention services on a national scale, including crisis intervention and a response strategy (DOH, 2020). Here are some things that might help you (DOH & WHO, 2020): Understand and sympathize with them and let them know that you care about them and that they are not alone. Be non-judgmental. Don’t criticize or condemn them. Demonstrate that you're paying attention by repeating what they've said. This will also ensure that you have fully comprehended them. Ask a few questions about their motivations for living and dying, and pay attention to their responses. Make an effort to learn more about their motivations for life. Ask some questions whether they've ever felt this way before. If this is the case, check on how their feelings have altered from the last time you spoke with them. Assure them that their feelings will not last forever. Inspire them to concentrate on surviving the day rather than planning for the future. Aid them to find help from a professional by volunteering. If necessary, volunteer to accompany them to their appointment with a competent therapist. Any obligations you make should be followed up. When they're in urgent danger, make sure someone is with them. If you're not sure how to help, seek advice from a medical practitioner. Always remember that you don’t have to really give them answers, but rather you should listen to them and let them know that you care. With the DOH and WHO Philippines’ collaboration, they call every Filipino to be more involved in Mental Health discussions to become more aware and to give aid to people who need help and support. Contact Information for NCMH’s Crisis Hotline 24/7 NCMH Crisis Hotline 1553: 0917 899 8727(USAP) 7-989-8727 (USAP) REFERENCES: COVID-19 and Your Health. (2020, February 11). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html Department of Health. (2020, September 10). DOH AND WHO PROMOTE HOLISTIC MENTAL WELLNESS IN LIGHT OF WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY [Press release]. https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/DOH-AND-WHO-PROMOTE-HOLISTIC-MENTAL-WELLNESS-IN-LIGHT-OF-WORLD-SUICIDE-PREVENTION-DAY Ku, R. (2020, October 10). Despite teleconsultations, access to mental health services remains limited. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/moveph/despite-teleconsultations-access-to-mental-health-services-remains-limited Maramag, G. (2020, September 10). DOH and WHO promote holistic mental health wellness in light of World Suicide Prevention Day. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/philippines/news/detail/10-09-2020-doh-and-who-promote-holistic-mental-health-wellness-in-light-of-world-suicide-prevention-day P. (2020, March 31). Coronavirus in the Philippines: The COVID-19 risk, impact, and measures. Pharmaceutical Technology. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/coronavirus-affected-countries-philippines-measures-impact-tourism-economy/ Y. (2021, March 9). Mental Health in the Philippines During the Pandemic. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/mental-health-in-the-philippines/

It is often said that women are more emotional than men, that they suffer more emotionally compared to men who are being labeled as always strong, stoic and emotionless which is why when men showed vulnerability (e.g crying), they received criticism, telling them to “Stop being a baby”, “Man it up”, “Get over it” etc. (Brand, 2013). Due to their fear of receiving negative commentary and crushing their ego, they try to repress and not express emotions as to avoid dealing with them and maintain a strong figure. The society also plays a role in why men do not express emotions, they have defined that men should always be in character (i.e strong, provider of the family, masculine, etc.) and keep their emotions within themselves. This repression of men’s emotions resulted in various mental health problems, viciousness, and outrageousness Dekin (2020) stated that 30% of men experienced depression at some point in their life and 9% are feeling depressed and anxious every day. It was also stated that men experience emotions with the same amount that women do and that men's inexpressiveness of their emotions is not an implication that they do not have them and/or they are emotionless at some point. The study of Smith et al. (2016) stated that several researchers explained that men’s emotion/ mental health can also be demonstrated with the same explanation as with women’s or can be measured with the same capacity as them. They have stated that men, compared to women, encounter more external symptoms (i.e aggressiveness, addiction, etc.) and these structures are likely related to the gender differences in social interactions, coping, treatment-seeking, etc. Most research about gender and their mental health focuses on two things: a)men and women have roughly the same values of mental disorder (e.g depression, anxiety, stress) and b) men and women are prone to different types of psychiatric illness. When men try to repress their emotions, especially the negative feelings, they manifest violence and aggression towards people around them or even with animals or things. Repressing their emotions often leads them to destroy everything in sight, which may lead to stealing or even lying. Men’s emotions are given less importance, especially here in the Philippines. They are expected not to cry when they feel hurt and feel vulnerable because of their gender. Their emotions are being neglected and given less importance and because of this, they repressed emotions and act stiff and stoic that is why the study; Chaplin (2014) focuses more on men’s emotional expression, which is also what young adults demonstrate others externally in the form of facial, vocal, etc., to communicate their internal emotional states. She has stated that it is hard to ascertain kids' actual emotion regulation since children may not even be conscious of their strategies but can gain a lot of knowledge regarding real-life regulation by observing emotion expression in various situations. Lastly, she has stated that men who demonstrate an overstated pattern of displaying un-modulated frustration as well as repressing sadness and anxiety may be at greater risk for developing behavioral issues and potentially drug addiction. Without proper guidance and acknowledgment of their emotions, men can be subjective with violence which can affect the people that surround them. Men have feelings too. They can cry, be vulnerable, show weakness and be feminine without harming others. If they too, can accept their own weaknesses and emotions, then they can gain stability with their mental health. References: Brand, N. (2013, June 29). Get Over It. Men and the Cost of Emotional Repression. The Good Men Project. https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/get-over-it-men-and-the-cost-of-emotional-repression/ Chaplin, T. M. (2014). Gender and emotion expression: A developmental contextual perspective. Emotion Review, 7(1), 14–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073914544408 Dekin, S. (2021, May 26). Men and emotions: The importance of becoming vulnerable. Mission Harbor Behavioral Health. https://sbtreatment.com/blog/men-and-emotions-the-importance-of-becoming-vulnerable/ Grubber, G., & Borelli, J. (2018, February 22). Why we should help boys embrace all their feelings. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_we_should_help_boys_to_embrace_all_their_feelings Kevin Zoromski, Michigan State University Extension. (2021, March 17). How men and fathers express emotions. MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_men_and_fathers_express_emotions MensLine Australia. (2021, July 12). Men and emotions. https://mensline.org.au/mens-mental-health/men-and-emotions/ Smith, D. T., Mouzon, D. M., & Elliott, M. (2016). Reviewing the assumptions about men’s mental health: An exploration of the gender binary. American Journal of Men’s Health, 12(1), 78–89. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316630953

The number and strength of relationships throughout our life have an impact on our mental and physical well-being. According to the American Psychological Association, a lack of social interactions and/ or loneliness can have a direct impact on our emotional and physical health, which can lead to weight gain, sleep loss, and a weakened immune system. As a result, the advantages of social bonds are substantial. To stay well and happy, we must be socially active. So, how do we improve our social connections? Consider the kind of connections we have and the types of relationships we would like to have. We may discover that we want to meet new acquaintances or that we want to strengthen our existing ties. Or perhaps we have a tendency to remain with old pals and are unable to meet new ones. Furthermore, we may also require aid in understanding the obstacles we have developed that hinder us from connecting effectively with others. Some examples of obstacles include poor self-esteem, lack of confidence, nervousness, and difficulty asking for and receiving support from others. Thus, consulting a counselor may help us improve our capacity to connect with people in a safe and supportive setting. After doing this, we may want to reach out to individuals we already know, such as coworkers, colleagues, relatives, or neighbors. We can give them a call, write or email them, and let them know that we want to communicate with them more frequently. We may also consider the common interest they have in using Facebook and other social media platforms. There are also several ways to meet new individuals and build ties with them. We can begin a discussion with people we see on a daily basis, such as those on our bus in the morning, baristas in our local Starbucks, checkout workers at our family mart, and any activity we do in our life that are around people. Similarly, joining a sports team or volunteering are some other options. Although not all these methods will work for everyone, we could try a variety of approaches to determine what works best for us. We can always try something new! The aim is to be able to share our time, experiences, and stories with others while also listening to them. We can be happier and more fulfilled as a result of the social ties we develop. In this approach, social connectivity provides positive feedback on social, emotional, and physical well-being. Reference: Novotney, A. (2019) The risks of social isolation. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it greatly affected our lives, creating an emergency state globally. The COVID-19 pandemic endangers not only our physical health but also our mental health as well. As this pandemic continues, it also limits our lives, making us prone to feel overwhelmed by different kinds of emotions. Concerns regarding mental health and substance have grown, including concerns about suicidal ideation (Panchal et al., 2021). There are many factors in this pandemic that can affect our mental health. The stress of being isolated from others, worries about jobs and financial security, health, and some losses in this pandemic can trigger anxiety and depression. Life can seem hopeless during these times, and many negative emotions could overwhelm us, resulting in depression and could interfere with our daily lives. Learning and noticing early signs of depression, especially at this time, could help us take an immediate course of action and help lessen or help us deal with it. Here are some things that you could do to cope with depression during the pandemic: Change your focus It is not easy to change our focus during these circumstances, and taking the first step is always the hardest. But changing your focus could go a long way. You always have more control over your mood and how you feel. During these times, it is a given that we are undergoing some challenges, and depression could make things worse. Depression could fill us with negativity and drain our motivation away to do the things that we enjoyed before. Recognizing those things could help you see a clearer view of what you should focus on more and help you take your first step towards a more optimistic perspective. Distract yourself Find simple sources of joy Limit your consumption of news Maintain a routine Express gratitude Find new ways to engage with others. This pandemic continues to limit our way of life, and one of them is how we usually socialize with other people. Meeting people in person is challenging to do now, but that doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself and stop interacting with others. Face-to-face contact is still the best way to improve our mood and help our well-being, but interacting with others through chat, phone calls, or video calls could still allow you to be connected with other people. Remember that reaching out and staying bound is essential. Learn how to CONNECT with others Move beyond small talk Share about yourself Adopt healthy daily habits Daily habits play a significant role in your overall well-being. During this pandemic, having a healthy daily routine is a must. Sometimes, you may slip out and make unhealthy habits, especially if you are stuck at home and doing nothing. You may sleep late, overeat, drink too much to fill in the gap. But having a healthy habit and maintaining it could help you better and improve your well-being. Get moving Practice relaxation techniques Eat a mood-boosting diet. Sleep well Use reminders to keep yourself on track Reference: Salari, N., Hosseinian-Far, A., Jalali, R., Vaisi-Raygani, A., Rasoulpoor, S., Mohammadi, M., Rasoulpoor, S., & Khaledi-Paveh, B. (2020). Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Globalization and Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00589-w Weber, M. (2020, May 30). Dealing with depression during coronavirus. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/dealing-with-depression-during-coronavirus.htm Dealing with depression during coronavirus. (2020, May 30). HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/dealing-with-depression-during-coronavirus.htm# The implications of COVID-19 for mental health and substance use. (2021, April 14). KFF. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

The World Health Organization categorized Covid-19 as a pandemic on March 11th, 2020 as it has affected the aspects of human life worldwide. The number of infected people and the mortality rate in some countries were rising fast. Countries that have been affected by the pandemic have forced the government to implement strict restrictions that impact people’s lives. Restaurants, Malls, Hotels, and other non-essential venues were forced to close. Only the essential shops were exempted such as groceries, pharmacies and other essential companies remained open. This resulted in a lot of people becoming unemployed and in turn, developing mental health problems. The surge in unemployment is one of the factors in the findings that financial stresses, lack of social support, and job loss are the leading contributors to substance abuse, suicide, and other mental health issues. The course of the pandemic was uncertain and the concern for financial instability that stems from the lockdown orders led to mental health problems. The fear inflicted by the Covid-19 virus has contributed to generalized anxiety and panic. Stay-at-home lockdown orders and social distancing measures also factored in mental health problems because social connections and satisfaction with life are a facet of daily existence. It also raised concerns that post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms could persist even after the pandemic has been resolved. People who stayed in quarantine facilities have also shown symptoms of PTSD and depression. The unemployment rates triggered by Covid-19 posed a significant threat to mental health. The economic forecasts showed that the market recovery in countries deeply affected by the Covid-19 virus will take a long time. Many of the people who are unemployed due to the pandemic suffered prolonged unemployment. Chronic stressors such as prolonged unemployment have the most negative impact on people’s mental health. Unemployment is associated with financial strain, thus can effectively decline one’s self-esteem, and is known to have a severe impact on families and individuals. This unemployment crisis posed a great threat to the mental health of the people and is still in urgent need of a solution. References: Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 7163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197163 Journal of Health and Social Behavior Vol. 30, No. 3 (Sep., 1989), pp. 241-256 (16 pages) Published By: American Sociological Association https://doi.org/10.2307/2136956 López del Amo González, M.P., Benítez, V. & Martín-Martín, J.J. Long term unemployment, income, poverty, and social public expenditure, and their relationship with self-perceived health in Spain (2007–2011). BMC Public Health 18, 133 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-5004-2 Front Psychol. 2021; 12: 576301. Published online 2021 Feb 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.576301

During the COVID - 19 pandemic, burnout in the workplace was very common especially when employees have been exposed in the field and battling frontline. Nurses, doctors, medics, and other frontline workers cry for help as they have been overworked, but experiencing low compensation and hazard pay. In addition to that, they are isolated from their loved ones and have been experiencing discrimination in their barangays and other places. According to Blake et al., (2020), health care workers are not only at high risk of acquiring Covid-19, but they also experience psychological distress due to isolation from their loved ones to prevent transmission of the virus, increased workload, and hours of duty that leads to burnout, shortage of medical supplies, equipment, and protective gears, physical and emotional exhaustion and many life and death decision making. Experiencing burnout in the workplace comes from; mental and/or physical fatigue, pessimism is the cause of detachment in responding to providing services and it reduces professional efficacy which is the mindset that you will be unable to complete tasks successfully. According to the Job Demands-Resources model (Taylor et al., 2015), burnout occurs when the employees experience that the demands in their workplace exceed while the resources that are available to them decrease. Resources can also be the employees’ work climate, job social support, job autonomy and skill direction, and self-traits. With these experiences, it is important to cope and build resilience and provide emotional support for your colleagues as well. Being compassionate to yourself and your colleagues helps decrease stress and emotional extremes adopted in the workplace. You can do this by checking up on your colleagues once in a while and trying to think of some activities that will help you feel relaxed after long hours of duty. It is also important to connect with family, colleagues, and friends as one of your coping mechanisms. It is said that having a social connection with people with the same experience as you helps as emotional support, just don't forget to balance it with your family and non-work-related friends. References: Taylor, N. Z., Millear, P. M. R., (2015), “The contribution of mindfulness to predicting burnout in workplace”, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.10.005 Sritharan, J., Jegathesan, T., Vimaleswaran, D., Sritharan, A., (2020), “Mental Health Concerns of Frontline Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review”, doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v12n11p89 Tomlin, J., Warburton, B. D., Lamph, G., (2020), “ Psychosocial Support for Healthcare Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic”, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01960

Many employees, even students, are getting overwhelmed with their to-do list, which is basically a list of important things they must do or finish at the end of the day. Indeed, it helps in setting our priorities straight so that we will be able to efficiently and effectively work at our own pace. However, the to-do list does not include the part where we are disrupted to do other work, interrupted by an unexpected problem, or attended to an urgent matter, where no one is available except us. Nonetheless, we would get back to our work and the sight of our to-do list untouched will make us think that we haven't got anything done. This, in turn, will make us feel mentally stressed out and unmotivated because of not being able to accomplish what we set out to do. It is not always, but we may find ourselves having sudden waves of anxiety and a crippling feeling of pressure to get things done. In an article, Forget the “to-do” list. You really need a “get-done” list, the author, who is also a life coach, developed a technique called the “got-done” list. Contrary to the to-do list, the got-done list is a running log of accomplishments and things that her clients additionally did for the day, big or small. Results about making the got-done list alongside the traditional to-do list have proved to help both the author and her clients in having a broadened perspective and motivational standpoint. Also in the same article, Teresa Amabile, Baker Foundation Professor at Harvard Business School and co-author of The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, listed some of the benefits of making a got-done list. It included capturing small wins and stirring progress, helping soothe the frustration of not being able to accomplish the set-out goals, and lastly, it helps in identifying what causes clients to lose focus or attention. Indeed, the idea of making a got-done list seemed to be an effective strategy to counter the mental pressure of a to-do list. After the pandemic has stirred our lives in ways we would have not imagined, we may have, at some point, depending on supplemental reminders of our daily tasks and goals. Undeniably for some, it became the new normal— setting daily goals and working to the extent of our capabilities to finish them. Oftentimes, we check our to-do list more than we check ourselves, and we have perhaps forgotten that in these difficult times, the most important reminder is to take care of ourselves and make sure we are okay. It is only natural to set our minds on achieving our goals, however, achieving goals is not linear. There will be a time that would seem out of our schedule but it does not define what we can and cannot achieve. We may take a little more of the time than what we have set, but our list will soon be over and done. We may lose a little bit of our time by being interrupted, but we should not lose the ability to start anew. A simple reminder for everyone who often feels stressed about not getting anything on the list crossed out: be gentle on yourself and enjoy your achievements, no matter how big, no matter how small. The only to-do list we must follow is the one where we are reminded of taking gentle care of ourselves. Reference: Kim, S. (2021). Forget the “to-do” list. You really need a “get-done” list. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/productivity-got-done-list/

You see them every day on social media. You would laugh at them and would probably share them with your friends. Memes have totally taken the internet by storm. It’s a total go-to for everyone whenever they’re stressed or depressed. Back when my friends and I were completing our qualitative thesis on memes, we noticed that our participants received mostly positive experiences from creating and sharing them on social media. While making the analysis, an idea crossed my mind and I thought to myself, “If they received favorable experience from memes, maybe it could be used for therapy?” It’s a ridiculous question, I know. But for the most part, the majority of us who use the internet also happen to use social media, which, in turn, means that almost everyone has seen at least one meme. Well, people who use social media regularly, have more experience with encountering memes and the short-term positive effects that it brings. In our study, the participants told us in an interview that they were able to adapt to their current situation in life like a recent heartbreak, insecurities, or even boredom. They all noted positive outcomes from making memes and posting them on social media. One participant notably mentioned that it was able to treat his feelings of sadness and made him feel better. So, why not share a meme with your friends? Maybe you can brighten their mood while improving yours at the same time!