HEAL THY MIND

In a dark room sits a young student, looking down from his laptop’s bright screen,

gripping his hair as he stresses over his academics and his family’s financial

situation—a common scenario a lot of Filipino students faced in the midst of the

epidemic. Mental health is a mix of our emotional, psychological, and social wellness. It

shows how we handle stress, how we interact, and how we socialize. With social media

on the rise, mental health became a more open topic to the public, with this, awareness

has been raised. Mental wellness can be affected by biological factors, life experiences,

and family history of such disorders. According to a research made by the Suicide

Prevention Resource Center of the Univeristy of Oklahama Health Sciences Center,

mental health issues can affect one’s energy level, concentration, dependability, mental

ability, and optimism. When these factors are affected, it can hinder a student’s

performance. Stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and depression are amongst the

common experiences of students. One might feel burnt-out, which can lead to harmful

situations. Many cases of self-harm and suicide became an escape for some of those

who experience mental health issues. Mental health is a critical concern we all face.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak locked the students

inside their homes, many of them have opened up to feel alone and lost in times of

darkness. The pandemic caused massive problems to the economic situations of

different Filipino families, closed schools, and kept everyone at a distance—all these

factors contributed to the worsening of students’ mental wellness. With so much to bear,

minds go confused and overwhelmed, not to mention the sudden transition from

traditional face-to-face classes to fully remote learning, either online or modular classes,

causing students to stress out and panic. The distance has pushed us away from each

other, but with the technological advancements made, we are still able to connect and

share our concerns with the people we trust. With the return of the “normal,” the rise of

mental health awareness, and the fight against the mental health stigma, the public,

most especially the youth, has now realized its importance. With this, schools and different organizations implemented mental health programs for students, for them to be

guided and encouraged to seek help. Although cases still continue to skyrocket, more

people have now opened up to loved-ones and consulted medical professionals to help

them in their healing.

When all darkness floods in, hidden in one corner is light. With all the movements

the youth is taking to push for mental health awareness and throw off the term “taboo”

that is often associated with it, a time of healing is about to rise. A time of strength and

courage; a time of acknowledging and putting our wellness first.