Our Mental Health is as essential as food

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

If you feel the burnout, step back and take care of yourself first. If you need help, just go ahead and take it. There is no shame in it.

When we are burned out, we must pause or stop for awhile. Going on and ignoring the pain will compromise our mental health. Resort to self-care practices if we're too hesitant to seek the help of a professional because of the expense coupled with it. There are friends out there that would be willing to listen if we'll just open up to them.

One of the barriers in improving our mental health by seeking help from professionals is the negative connotations of counseling, and the biases that society have about counseling. Also, with this pandemic, professional help is not that accessible to everyone who needs it. 

Professional help and therapy are expensive. We should make them more equitable so people would access them. 

There is also this stigma that when you talk about mental health, you will be immediately tagged as "baliw" and most of us don't even understand the importance of mental health. Proper education is really important for us to break this stigma.

We break the stigma when we recognize that many factors contribute to a person’s mental health (consider the biopsychosocial model), & so at any particular time in our lives, we may not be at our best, & we may need professional help, & THAT IS OKAY.

Thus, for now, when a friend or anybody shares their personal issues to us, let’s drop the “solution mindset” in our head. Sometimes, they just need someone who listens. So just listen, and listen attentively. Create a safe space for them.

Another barrier that we can see here is that mental health issues are often dismissed and maririnig natin yung words such as "kulang ka sa dasal"

Mental issue isn't also a result of not praying enough. Even religious persons experience depression. Depression is not a lack of faith.

Heal loudly. Share your healing journey. It will let people know that they are not alone and may even encourage them to seek help knowing that someone has been through it.

It's okay to not be okay, to not force yourself. Take all the time you need to recover and process things. Then once you are ready, feel free to reach out anytime. There is no "proper time". People will always be here to listen.

Heal at our own pace, take our time because we're allowed to. And by the time we're ready to reach out, always remember that there will always be people who are more than willing to help us. 

Like planting seeds, it takes several days for the seeds to sprout, continued nurturing until they grow into seedlings and then constant care for it to thrive.

Siguro if I have the chance to talk to my 17-year-old self and to the peeps who are hesitant, I will tell myself and them to please seek help whenever you're able and open up whenever you're ready. We're not forcing you to speak but we're encouraging you. 

It is never shameful to ask for help. It does not make you less of a person. You are worth it. Reach out to a close friend, colleague or relative. We need to talk about it. We need to integrate it to our daily activities so that stigma will be lessened. 

That there’s also no shame in visiting a professional when you don’t know what to do or you’re lost. Lakasan mo loob mo. Trust the process. Open your heart and mind to trusting that there are professionals that are willing to support you.

Counseling or seeking professional health is okay. It helps people to cope and process emotions and feelings. We can contribute by being their source of light. By means of our presence. They need someone who can stand by their side.

Ships used to need lighthouses, and now GPSs, to guide their way through a stormy sea. We also need these to light our way.

Don't be afraid to seek help for it is normal. We are here to help you. Mental health professionals are trained to help and listen to you. If someone tagged you as "baliw", just ignore them. Your health is more important than their lack of proper knowledge.

We all know that there is still a lot of work to be done to expand the Mental Health access reach in the country. 

And we have to take part in the Mental Health conversations to let them hear our stories, over & over again, & louder.

You don’t have to fight the way that you are feeling on your own.There is always going to be someone that understands what you are going through. Don’t be afraid to reach out; I promise you’re not alone in this. 

Proper education is really needed for us to understand the importance of mental health care. We should let them feel that it is normal and that it is also a way to be healthy. Stop the stigma about mental health.

I hope everyone will have the enough knowledge and awareness regarding Mental Health. So no one would feel helpless or hesitant again, thinking that their mental health is invalid and unacceptable. Let’s build a future world w/out Mental Health stigma.

"You can cry to me, you can hug me, you can hold my hand when you are not ready to speak. I'm here at your lowest point of your life." I AM YOUR FRIEND. 

#UsapTayo is one of the most amazing platform that I've ever seen. Thank you @mentalhealthph for letting me/us experienced this. Mas lalo akong ginanahan maging advocate because of this. God bless to all the people behind this! 

"One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else's survival guide" -Bene Brown

#UsapTayo #MentalHealthPH

Only in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The deplorable state of the Philippines where a food bank known as a Community Pantry for the poor (during a crippling Covid-19 recession) was suspended because it is deemed possibly connected to Communists.

Ang community pantry ay manipestasyon ng kakulangang aksyon ng pamahalaan. Tanggapin niyo yan mga DDS. Nang dahil sa pandemya at pagiging inutil ng pamahalaan, marami ang nagugutom at walang trabaho.

The #CommunityPantryPH gave us all hope that despite everything, the Filipino will still choose to be good. But just like any story plots there will always be those who choose to be the antagonist. Ang masakit, sa pagbibida nila walang naaayos na problema. Walang gutom na naiibsan.

People lining up at the Maginhawa Community Pantry were asked to go home because there will be no food distribution today.

May nakikita na namang mali ang gobyerno dahil napupunan ng iba ang kanilang kakulangan.

Redtagging and attacks against the organizer and volunteers of the pantry forced them to pause operations, leaving some families going home empty-handed. 

Only in the Philippines where you will be suspected as communists by the police if you and your neighbours give away free food. 

Where the community tries to solve a problem caused by its government;

And the government sees it as a problem.

Good people are being punished for doing good things.

Two things:

> Nakikita ang kakulangan ng tulong galing sa government. Ayaw nila to.

> Nakikita ng government ang unity ng mga tao through these community pantries. Threat sa kanila na nagkakaisa ang taong bayan, for obvious reason. Mas ayaw nila to.

When did BAYANIHAN (helping our fellowmen) became against the law? Wow Only in the Philippines!

The government doesn't wanna do their job of helping the community (which is the bare minimum) and they also don't want others to help?

Pati Community Pantry hinahanapan ng permit? Kaloka!

Pag Pinoy initiative, ipapatigil kahit maganda ang intensyon.

Pag China, tuloy lang kahit ang sama ng pakay sa Pilipinasnas. Pula ang bandila niyan...ang tunay na mga komunista.

Sa ibang bansa may Community Pantries din. Inilalagay lang or isinasabit sa labas yung extra food nila. Ang kaibahan lang sa kanila ay walang bahid pulitika, walang mainstream medias at cameras na gaya dito sa atin. Nakakalungkot lang.

Bukal sa loob nila ang pagtulong pero ikaw ba naman ang ma redtag at malagay sa kapahamakan ang buhay mo habang tumutulong, hindi ka rin ba matatakot? Lalo na hindi naman sekreto kung ano ang nangyari dun sa mga aktibistang ni red tag ng gobyerno dati na pinatay ng walang kalaban-laban.

One person started this initiative & it spread like wildfire all over the country.

Takot ang gobyerno because they know that the PEOPLE have the POWER.

They'd rather have the people starving at home than see courageous citizens stand up to the occasion & do the government's job.

Parang church, they tell people to fear sinning because they'll go to hell, but then they ask for alms at the end of their sermon...which is highly unethical for it's like the taxes that the government forcefully deduct from our salaries. The only difference is that it's voluntary...but when the church goes from row to row to solicit the alms, everyone gets conscious not to give otherwise they may be seen as stingy and not God-fearing. Fear keeps the church in control of their flock. Donations are deemed plus points in assuring their entry to heaven. 

When the people learn to be independent and collaborate with each other to accomplish specific goals, the government becomes obsolete and unnecessary.

Dati ay naghahanap sila ng ambag, ngayon may nag-aambag ay nireredtag nila. Eh mga putang*na nila pala talaga eh! Porke ang naisip nilang solusyon ay maglagay ng useless na dolomite sa Manila Bay ay ganyan na sila! 

This is the living proof na hindi kukulit ang mga tao sa paglabas nang walang dahilan. Nagugutom sila, lumalabas sila para humanap ng makakain. Kung maayos at sistematiko lang sana ang response ng gobyerno edi wala na o nabawasan man lang ang mga nagugutom.

Walang pipila sa mga Community Pantries kung sapat ang tulong ng gobyerno!

"Tumakbo ayon sa kakayahan, Magtrabaho batay sa sinumpaan." But with what is happening, we got officials that are not qualified to do their job. Magresign na sila kung hirap manindigan. Magpatiwakal kung duwag naman. Hindi namin kailangan Ang Presidenteng bahag ang buntot at sipsip sa mga Instik.

Kaka-Fentanyl utak walang laman.

Ayaw lumabas ng kulambo, takot maambunan.

Bumoto na kasi tayo sa mga may tamang katinuan at hindi kung sino ang popular. Ngayong nalaman natin na tayo ay na scam ng nagtapang-tapangan ay magising na tayo sa katotohanan.

One thing I realized from this pandemic is that if you don't have skills...go for fame!

Fame these days are now the standard of living.

Being how famous are you versus how educated you are is the question...

Bad publicity is now the trend.

By doing this apparent harassment, they are pushing the patience of Filipinos to the limit. Be careful sila, puputok rin ang Pinatubo..... baka soon na.

It is only in the Philippines where the people still support a President that continues to shit on their heads....or are these DDS' are literally "bobo" 

Is there still hope for the Philippines?

No permit required in Pasig to setup Community Pantries

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

'You don't have to be rich to help others': Community pantry organizers share desire to beat hunger. Any small contribution when combined with others generosity become significant especially to those that are truly in need.

Community Pantries have sprung up in Pasig, including the one in Kapitolyo that was looted by a group of women who took all on display including two trays of eggs.

Mayor Vico Sotto says there is no need to secure a permit before opening a community pantry in Pasig City. 

“We commend the individuals who are helping as they can afford. Government has limited resources, so any effort to help others  is very welcome.” 

Kumambiyo si DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño sa nauna niyang pahayag na dapat kumuha muna ng permit ang mga magtatayo ng community pantries. 

Bakit yung USec ng DILG eh hindi alam na hindi kailangan ng permit ang pagtulong? Nakapagtataka lang talaga! Bobo ba siya talaga o nagkukunwari lang na bobo para pahirapan ang mga gusting tumulong?

Random acts of kindness at good deeds ay wala naman dapat talagang permit. Those who can afford pwedeng tumulong na hindi na dapat pahirapan pa na magpaalam at kumuha ng permiso sa gobyerno, lokal man o national.

Eto mismo si Mayor Vico, nanghihikayat pa.

Tama po yan Mayor! Basta huwag lang po pang #lecheflan at gawing #supermarket Ang Community Pantries ha! Umayos lang po tayo ng pila din, magbigay kung ano lang kayang ibigay, at kumuha lang po ng tama, huwag po yung pang one week o one month na ha! Basta to all #CommunityPantryPH mabuhay po kayo!! 

Hay, sana all government officials ganito... Matalino - pinag iisipan kung ano ang tama for the constituents, kind-hearted, totoong public service, highly commendable, top leadership skills, plus too many good stuff to mention, aside the many recognitions he got from many award- giving bodies,  and most of all - GWAPO katulad ko.

Mayor Vico has bei the standard of good governance right now. Not like the former mayor of Davao who I won't even mention as President because he doesn't deserve the position. Amid the pandemic ay walang ginawa kung hindi ngumawa laban sa mga totoong nakatulong, at dilaan ang puwet ng mga BFF niyang Chinese.

Sa Pasig lang ang may IDEAL Working Government who SERVES the People.

Mag-migrate na po kayo diyan.

Thank you very much mayor Vico for your great appreciation to their contributions to our community specially at this time of crisis. Stay healthy and safe.