MANILA, Philippines — Only a third of Filipinos are aware of mental issues and know how to deal with them — whether it be for themselves or for other people, according to a study.
The AXA Mind Health Study released on Thursday showed that 65 percent of Filipinos said while they were aware of mental health issues, only a smaller portion reported knowing how to recognize the signs, seek support, or respond effectively.
The study noted that individuals who were well-informed about mental health tend to report better overall mental well-being compared to those who were not.
“Awareness without action leaves people stuck, and in some cases, vulnerable to worsening conditions. That’s why education must go hand-in-hand with any awareness effort. We need to ensure that Filipinos not only recognize mental health issues but also know how to respond. Without that, we risk letting early warning signs escalate into long-term distress,” said Paula Ferrer Cheng, head of Research and Development at Mind You, AXA Philippines’ partner in mental health.
