Mental health important during pandemic, says expert

PAGADIAN, Nov 13 (PIA) - A mental health expert emphasized the importance of a person's mental health and wellness especially during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Dr. Moibe F. Olitres, psychotherapist / guidance coordinator at JH Cerilles State College, the resource speaker at the Dagyaw virtual forum on Thursday said mental health is a very important issue because it consists of the physical, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual aspects of man.

"It speaks to our happiness, to our identity, and also to who we are," Olitres explained.

She added that mental health talks about how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about other people, and how do we cope with the demands of love especially in this pandemic time.

She also said that it is difficult for a person to be kind to his neighbor if he does not understand his mental health.

Olitres pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic has made people stressful due to danger and anxiety brought about by the deadly disease.

Because of Covid-19 pandemic, Olitres said several people have committed suicide due to isolation, depression, anxiety, and government-imposed movement restrictions that increased the risk of suicide. It is experienced by people during a crisis such as pandemic.

In order for the person to be productive in his work, Olitres urged that mental health be institutionalized in all government offices.

The mental health expert recommends that in improving one’s mental health he needs to do the following activities: exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, take deep breaths, eat healthy and well-balanced meals.

"If we improve our mental health, we will flourish as a human being and eventually, we flourish as a nation," Olitres concluded.

The Dagyaw forum was hosted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and was attended by nearly four thousand participants from national and local government offices, civic organizations, media, academe, information volunteers netwok. (RVC/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)