Did you know that letting our kids play violent games for long hours can have a really bad impact on their mental health? According to research, the number of kids attempting and committing suicide due to excessive gameplay has increase intensively. And with our current situation where kids are more focused on holding their phone instead of playing physically, our guidance as parents and elderly is much needed.
Knowing the importance of a support system to those experiencing mental health problems, Globe dedicates the next leg of its #StartANewDay webinar to the “Family’s Role on One’s Mental Health.
I was able to attend the first leg (Insights for Millenials and GenZ’s) of this event and it made me realize and consider how most of us are feeling currently especially during this pandemic.
The event, which is in line with the World Mental Health Day celebration on October 10, talks about mental health issues within the family, sighting symptoms, available options for help, and creating a support system within the family and the community. And was aired on October 2, 2020, from 2 pm to 4 pm via https://www.facebook.com/GlobeBridgeCom.
Guest speakers are Dr. Anna Tuazon, a family and child therapist who is also an assistant professor at UP Diliman’s Department of Psychology, and Jean Goulbourn, a designer and a mental health advocate who founded the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation which operates HOPELINE, a 24/7 suicide prevention, and crisis support helpline.
Panelists include entrepreneur Ari Verzosa who is a staunch mental health advocate and motivational speaker on personality development and actress Iza Calzado who lost her mom to depression almost two decades ago and has openly supported and spoken about mental health.
I wasn’t really able to start the live streaming but with the amount of time I’ve spent, I already got a lot of good points that can be applied in our daily life.
One good point that Dr. Gozon mention was about opening our line of communication with our children and getting to know their ‘barkadas’ as well. Why is it important? This is because sometimes, our kids are more connected with their friends and the most important information’s about them is not being communicated with the parents. This includes lines involving their feelings of being isolated, depress, or even the thoughts of ending their life.
“If there are significant changes that you, as a family, can solve on your own, do it. If it’s no longer working then it’s time to ask for help.”
“It’s hard when you’re a child, trying to understand a parent going through this thing you can’t even wrap your head around. I think professional help is necessary.”—Iza Calzado
Mental illness is just like any other disease, don’t be afraid to seek help. HOPELINE for one is someone you can possibly talk to as they serve a 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support helpline.
Globe has also partnered with UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsycServ) and New Good Feelings (NGF) Mindstrong’s HOPELINE for free counseling or psychotherapy services. It also launched Hope Bank, an online support community particularly for front liners and patients suffering from COVID-19 and other illnesses. Members can post messages photos, artworks, quotes, song lyrics, poems, videos, or anything that expresses hope and positivity using the hashtag #StartANewDay both on their personal profiles and in the group.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late. Just go ahead.
Now is the time. It’s never too early. A professional can actually assure you that it’s not too bad. Na okay, kaya ko pa pala.”—Dr. Anna Tuazon
FYI: The World Health Organization said that an average of 30-35 calls due to depression was received daily by local authorities from March to May this year compared to 13-15 calls from May 2019 to February 2020. Moreover, the monthly average calls related to suicide increased to 45 per month as of May 31, 2020.
