Because of the pandemic a lot of us are stuck in the house and we are not allowed to go outside. We need to protect ourselves from the virus because that virus which is the Covid-19 can kill us. But are we really safe in our own house? Or it is also a dangerous place for us?
According to Rappler, Suicide incidences increased 25.7 percent in 2020, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), making it the 27th highest cause of death in 2020, up from 31st in 2019.
In 2020, 3,529 cases of deliberate self-harm were reported, up from 2,808 deaths in 2019.
Between 2015 and 2020, the average number of suicide deaths was 2,630.
Now, why I'm showing this? To tell you all that even in our house we are not safe especially during this pandemic where we can't go outside. And also to promote Mental Health Awareness because October is Mental Health Awareness Month.
When I was in a webinar few days ago and by the way, that webinar is about mental health awareness, I'm not actually into webinars but since its about mental health and our professor told us to attend in this seminar, I decided to attend in that webinar.
In the presentation of the speaker, it says that "Mental health is the Foundation for the well-being and effective functioning of individuals." Which is actually true because when we have a problem and our mind is full of thoughts we can barely focus on something that we need to do or we cannot focus on what we are doing. When we have a very calm mind we can decide and do the things that we need and we want. One of the example of it is someone who is broken from his previous relationship since he's broken he doesn't have an appetite to eat. He don't have the energy to do the things that he's usually doing. This is the reason why mental health is very important.
The speaker also told us that to maintain and have a healthy mental health we can use the this acronym "M.I.N.D". And I will share this will you guys.
First is letter M, "M" stands for Minimal exposure to Social Media. The social media now a days is very toxic and us, we tend to spend a lot of time in social media to the point that sometimes we didn't notice that we already spend a lot of time in browsing in social media and that's the time where we realize that we already waste a lot of time. We should realize that social media is just a way for communication and not a way to toxicity. We need to minimize our time in social media and focus on what really matters and on the things that we prioritize.
Next letter is I, "I" stands for Intimate Friendship. Having friends is very important because we someone that are willing to listen on us. Especially, during this pandemic we are inside the home only and sometimes our family is the reason why we are having a lot of bad thoughts and sadness. So, we need friends who are real on us. Someone who can we trust the most and someone who makes us feel comfortable.
Third letter is N, "N" stands for Nature Exposure. This pandemic a lot of parents like moms, and dads started planting, growing and collecting plants and we know that this has a huge impact because this helped them to cope up with the stress they are facing. And also, according to Loiuse Delagran a writer and a researcher, on her article titled "How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?" it says in that article that, being in nature, or even watching nature videos, reduces anger, fear, and stress while increasing pleasant feelings.
Nature not only improves your emotional well-being, but it also improves your physical well-being by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. According to specialists like public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell, it may even lower mortality. Even a basic plant in a room can have a substantial impact on tension and anxiety, according to research conducted in hospitals, companies, and schools.
Last letter is letter D, "D" stands for Divine Guidance. We have different beliefs in life and I respect that, all I can say in this part is that our faith makes us stronger. Sometimes, if we don't have someone that we can talk with, we can talk to him, to our Lord God who is always guiding and watching us. He is someone that will never judge us despite of the flaws and sins we commit.
If we are experiencing heaviness in our heart and our mind is not on its stable and calm state we can try to follow this M.I.N.D. because maybe, just maybe this 4 steps can helps us.
Anyway, let's not forget that the suicide rate in the Philippines is continuously increasing and as a member of the society even if we are just a normal people we can help and save lives.
We may check up our friends by messaging them on how's their life doing right now or how are they. Let's message our friends, relatives and love ones because sometimes even in their house they don't feel safe or happy. There are people who have houses but their house doesn't feel like home anymore.
Depression is not something that we can cure easily. Depression is battle with our own mind and self.
Mental Health is important and Let's spread Mental Health Awareness.