DAVAO CITY, Philippines – To increase awareness on mental health and illness in the Davao Region, a Mental Health Fair (MHF) will be held starting on October 9 at Abreeza Activity Center.
The Mental Health Fair is an annual week-long event hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) Region XI. The MHF will include talks regarding mental health and exhibits that will showcase advocacies of various institutions.
This year’s theme “Katatagan sa Nagbabagong Mundo: Kabataang Pinoy, Usap Tayo”, aims to end the mental health stigma by promoting mental health advocacies to prevent mental illness.
With six out of ten Filipinos diagnosed with depression annually, the MHF is especially relevant today as it will focus on the promotion of public awareness on mental health issues and on strengthening family and community support for people with mental illness.
“People will understand how to deal with mental health issues and its okay not to be okay,” Mango Life Advocate Eden David said.
Among the exhibitors is the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Davao Chapter, which aims to showcase prevention advocacy in the MHF.
“Our focus will be on prevention since there are already a lot of intervention programs by hospitals,” PMHA Chapter Executive Manager Precious Manliguez said.
With Davao Region being in the top five with the most suicide and depression cases, the PMHA is motivated to push for greater advocacies that will help those diagnosed with mental health problems.
The regional fair will conclude with a mental health awareness fun run organized by the Southern Philippine Medical Center’s Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine on October 14. (Cyntelle Joanne Saguan/davaotoday.com)
