Mental health is a growing concern in the Philippines.

According to the National Statistics Office, 17

to 20 percent of Filipino adults experience psychiatric problems with schizophrenia as the top mental
issue. Suicide caused by mental illnesses is a pressing issue as well. A report from The Philippine
Daily Inquirer says that seven Filipinos commit suicide every day.

Breaking the Stigma

“Baliw” and “abnormal” are just some of the words Filipinos associate to mental health. It’s easy to
brush off depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses since we don’t see them. However, we
need to understand that mental illness is real; it’s not something that goes away after a good night’s
sleep.

Instagram photo by @ivcariaso

Fortunately, the Senate approved the Philippine Mental Health Bill in May 2017. The act aims to
integrate mental health services and programs in the public health system to support
Filipinos suffering from mental illnesses. This also paves the way for a clearer understanding of
mental health in the Philippines.

Treatment Facilities
At present, there are only 700 psychiatrists and 1,000 psychiatric nurses in the Philippines. Most of
them are based in the National Capital Region since majority of mental institutions are located in
Metro Manila.

The government currently runs the following mental facilities in the country:

 National Center for Mental Health (Mandaluyong)

 Philippine General Hospital Psychiatric Department (Manila)
 Cavite Center for Mental Health (Cavite)
 Mariveles Mental Ward (Bataan)

Private hospitals such as the University of Santo Tomas, Makati Medical Center, University of the
East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, and Metro Psychotherapy Facility also offer
mental care services. Nearby provinces like Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal have its fair share of mental
facilities, too.

For a complete list of institutions, click here.

Cost of Professional Treatment

Instagram photo by @kayleymills

Despite the increasing number of mental health facilities in the Philippines, access to professional
treatment is still a challenge. Why? Due to expensive treatment costs.

In Metro Manila, a session with a private psychiatrist costs P2,000 to P3,000. Depending on the case, a
patient may visit once or twice a month. Medication is quite expensive, too. Known brands such as
Xanax and Prozac cost around P120 per tablet while other anti-depressants and anti-psychotic
drugs can cost as much as P240 each.

The NCMH admits patients who wish to seek advance mental health treatments. Here are their
rates:
PhilHealth and Insurance Coverage
Good news: PhilHealth now offers mental health packages. The government-owned corporation
covers fees for consultations with psychiatrists. Members can avail it just like any medical treatment.
The bad news, though, is that health insurance companies still don’t cover mental health-related
consultations and medications.

This is something that corporations and government institutions need to address. In the meantime,
Filipinos who wish to seek financial assistance for mental health treatments can rely on personal loans
for medical bills. A secured medical plan can greatly aid individuals who find mental health services
costly.

Final Thoughts
If you know someone suffering from mental issues, be a friend. Listen and encourage that person to
seek professional treatment. It’s never too late to help someone in nee

https://www.moneymax.ph/blog/mental-health-philippines

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that the Asian Federation of Psychiatric
Associations (AFPA) invites you to participate in its international congress to be held in
Manila, Philippines, from January 24-26, 2018. The event, which will be locally hosted
by the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA), is to coincide with the PPA’s 44th
Annual Convention. It features the timely theme, “Advances, Impacts, & Future
Directions of Psychiatry: The Asian Experience”, with the goal of portraying the
distinctiveness of psychiatry in Asia. The program is poised to enhance and update the
participants on scientific momentums, its impacts on current clinical practice, and future
directions in the field, with a special focus on the Asian backdrop.

Despite psychiatry’s prevailing strengths, it is not without limitations and intimidations,

and the Asian backdrop is no exception. Currently, it deals with its diverse concerns in
mental health such as the dearth of mental health professionals, the lack or uneven
distribution and delivery of mental health services, the inadequate financial resources
allocated to mental health and ultimately, the absence of fundamental national mental
health legislation. Thus, the confederation and sharing of proficiencies among Asian
countries is imperative as we concurrently open ourselves to emerging global prospects
and breakthroughs.

With such mental health issues firmly gaining increasing global recognition and
importance in the overall health agenda, this three-day event serves as a timely
occasion for us to examine and look into social, therapeutic, and etiological expansions
in the psychiatric domain and consider how they influence our clinical practice today
and beyond.

Finally, the strategic location of the congress at the Philippine International Convention
Center (PICC) allows both international and local delegates to experience the vibrant
heart of the Philippine capital. The venue city is a lively fusion of modernity and
tradition, where world-class business centers and old walled cities alike are infused with
Filipino warmth and hospitality. It is likewise a jump-off point (a mere 45-minute aerial
journey) for the many islands for which the country is internationally famed for, including
Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, and Bohol.

http://afpa2018.philpsych.ph/