Content warning: This article contains information about sexual assault, and rape. If you have been sexually assaulted, this guide may be painful or difficult to read.   If you have been sexually assaulted, it can be really hard to determine what to do. While it was happening, you might be even confused if it’s considered as sexual assault. Not until a few days, weeks, months, or even years passed.   You may be feeling a rollercoaster of emotions — from confusion to shame, anger to even guilt. You may also reach to the point that you put the blame on...

Mayroong pagkakataon sa ating buhay na narinig natin ang mga katagang, 'Hindi kabawasan ang anumang kakulangan ng isang tao.' Marahil ito ay napulot natin mula sa ating mga magulang, guro, sa TV, o di kaya ay sa mga matatanda na sa tagal ay nalimutan na natin kung sino. Kung ating babaybayin, isang pangungusap lamang ito na tila ay simple  at lantad naman ang kahulugan. Ngunit kung ito ay hihimayin, malalim ang hugot nito na marahil ay hindi para sa'yo ngunit sa napakaraming indibidwal na tinatawag mating 'person with disabilities'. Sa kabila ng mga ngiti na kanilang patuloy na ipinapakita at...

TW: Suicide, Depression, Anxiety, Mental Health Issues As the pandemic hit the globe, people, more commonly young adults, experiencing anxiety and depression increased by 25%. With the lockdown and social isolation happening for almost a year, World Health Organization reported that the mental health of younger generations is “disproportionally” at risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviors. Alongside this, the increase in the number of people struggling with mental health concerns is also a result of unprecedented stress due to constraints on the ability to work, physical connection and support from loved ones, and overall community engagement.    A 21-year-old student...

Emotional validation is the acceptance of a person’s feelings, thoughts, and emotional experiences.  Emotional invalidation, then, is when a person’s thoughts, feelings, and emotional experiences were belittled, rejected, judged and ignored.    Some people say,  “ para ayun lang”  “ ako nga eh napagdaanan ko naman yan pero nalagpasan ko”  “ ang babaw mo naman”  “ ang OA mo naman”  “ ang sensitive mo naman”    Instead of showing care and concern to the person who is experiencing emotional stress, you tend to invalidate their feelings that often lead to thinking that they are worthless and that their feelings don't...

TW: Depression, Suicide, Mental Health issues   In 2018, the ongoing crisis with mental health in the Philippines aided in pushing through the passing of the Mental Health Act. From then, there was a noticeable increase in the monthly average calls received by the National Center for Mental Health. Despite the existing act, the designated expenditure for mental health is barely 5%, a seemingly lower percentage compared to other Western Pacific countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, there are only 7.76 hospital beds and 0.41 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, as stated by the World Health Organization in 2007.     According...