- 21 hours ago
"Okay ra ba gyud ka?"
Behind the smiles, achievements, and daily routines, many people are quietly battling stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression.
This episode of Beyond the Headlines, we tackle the realities of mental health in the Philippines, the challenges of seeking help, and how we can better support ourselves and those around us.
Join us as we speak with Dr. Sherryl Muli-Abellanosa, Founder and Clinical Director of Kauban Psychological Center, Inc., and Professor at the University of San Carlos Department of Psychology.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or wondered if what you're experiencing is more than just a bad day, this conversation is for you.
📅 Watch us live and be part of this important discussion.
Behind the smiles, achievements, and daily routines, many people are quietly battling stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression.
This episode of Beyond the Headlines, we tackle the realities of mental health in the Philippines, the challenges of seeking help, and how we can better support ourselves and those around us.
Join us as we speak with Dr. Sherryl Muli-Abellanosa, Founder and Clinical Director of Kauban Psychological Center, Inc., and Professor at the University of San Carlos Department of Psychology.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or wondered if what you're experiencing is more than just a bad day, this conversation is for you.
📅 Watch us live and be part of this important discussion.
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NewsTranscript
02:25Good afternoon.
02:26Welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
02:27I'm DJ Moises.
02:29Today, we will have an honest and meaningful conversation about mental health, not from a place of fear, but from
02:37a place of understanding, healing, and hope.
02:40Joining us over a conversation made possible by our friends at Coffee First is someone who has dedicated her career
02:48to helping people understand the complexities of the human mind and the importance of emotional wellness.
02:55We have Dr. Cheryl Muli-Abelianosa.
02:58So, good afternoon, Dr. Cheryl.
03:01Hello, DJ.
03:02Good afternoon.
03:03And to our viewers, good afternoon as well.
03:05So, welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
03:07And we're truly grateful that you made time for this episode because the topic that we will be covering today
03:14is something that's important to a lot of Filipinos.
03:18But some of them don't just have the right venue to be able to access information such as this.
03:24So, but before we start, can you walk us through also on your journey as a clinical psychologist and the
03:33formation of Kauban Psychological Center?
03:38Okay.
03:39Well, I started way back 2017.
03:42My practice is always grounded to service, like giving service to the community.
03:50Way back 2017, that was the time when Cebu had this increased rate in depression, anxiety, and a lot of
03:59people suffering from suicide ideation.
04:02That's why I myself had went through such a condition and I realized the difficulties of suffering it by yourself.
04:09Even your friends, even your family, may not understand what you're going through.
04:15And, you know, the common misconceptions of saying that it's all in your head, you can just nap out of
04:22it.
04:23Or take a good rest.
04:24Take a good rest.
04:26Or just, you know, just go on vacation.
04:28On vacation.
04:30And then you'll come back okay.
04:32Okay.
04:33Struggling now with this invisible concern is very difficult and, in fact, life-threatening.
04:40So, realizing that a lot of people are suffering the same, I thought of opening a place where, you know,
04:50we can provide a safe space for them.
04:52They can just talk about what they're going through without the fear of being judged.
04:57And we call that Kauban.
04:59So, Kauban then was established under the Community Extension Services of the University of San Carlos.
05:05We opened it to public and we meet every Friday, 6 p.m.
05:10And you will be surprised.
05:12You know, we have, we can average for about 25 people every Friday.
05:17And this comes, they came from different walks of life and different also ages.
05:24We had 14 years old, the youngest, 60 the oldest.
05:28So, we would just come together and the approach was psychoeducation.
05:34The first 30 minutes will be spent for orientation.
05:37And we talk about some different topics concerning mental health.
05:41And then after that, we will be, we had support group processes.
05:47So, we were considered as the first mental health support group in the Visayas and Mindanao.
05:52And then pandemic happened.
05:54So, that was 2017.
05:56I wasn't yet a licensed psychologist then.
05:59I had my license in 2018.
06:02And the mental health law was also enacted in 2018.
06:06So, there was really very few talks about mental health.
06:11So, we started off, I started using my voice.
06:14I remember being invited in a bar somewhere in Vanilla to talk about depression.
06:21And it was also amazing because while I was talking about it,
06:27a lot of people after that short sharing came to me and then expressed themselves
06:33that they too were going through the same, if not even more serious concerns.
06:41So, it was going through different stages, Kauban, from being a support group.
06:49Then the pandemic happened.
06:51We won't be able to meet face-to-face.
06:53So, I was receiving so many messages, what will happen now, that we cannot meet anymore.
06:59So, again, we morphed into an online platform.
07:02We developed a USC mental health support group for COVID-19 crisis.
07:08And we operated 24-7.
07:10And it was really very overwhelming and at the same time heartwarming
07:16because a lot of different professionals, remember, we were not working that first two weeks or a month.
07:24So, doctors, nurses, you know, messaged me and then also volunteered to help.
07:30So, we were operating 24-7.
07:33And we reached up to more than a million of those who really accessed the service.
07:40So, after that, when the pandemic eased out, of course, the SVD priests,
07:46they were the ones who told me, now that you have your license,
07:49perhaps, we can expand the services that Kauban is giving the community.
07:54So, we transformed into a center and became a center officially way back last 2022.
08:01So, it became Kauban Psychological Center Incorporated.
08:05And now, we are serving the community, but still, we maintained the nature of it being a community service.
08:13So, we have Kauban Day every Wednesday, and that's giving services for free.
08:19We also have Kauban Day, a radio program aired every Saturday to also reach those who are in the far
08:27-flung areas
08:27who have no access to education or if not anything, any information about mental health.
08:34So, for example, if one of our viewers, he or she is watching, and then they would go to Kauban
08:43Center,
08:43what can they expect?
08:45What are the services, one said, that the center offers for them?
08:48Okay. So, right now, we are offering psychological assessment.
08:52Now, we also have pre-employment.
08:55We have assessment for learning disabilities, so that children ages in the grade school up to high school.
09:05And even, you know, we also have assessment for different mental health disorders.
09:09We do counseling and psychotherapy.
09:13We also do group processing.
09:14And we also offer training in different organizations, the workplace mental health training.
09:20We do that.
09:21And most especially, we do community works.
09:24We partner with different LGUs.
09:27We give mental health awareness training to different barangay health workers.
09:32We still maintain, you know, the nature of Kauban, which is to really help the community.
09:37So, specific to the assessment and also the intervention, and I think we have discussed offline that I went through
09:48the process also myself,
09:49not necessarily with Kauban Center, but with an expert.
09:55And it can be very expensive.
09:57You feel much better.
09:58Once you see the bill, it's like, ah.
10:00I agree.
10:02So, how is that also addressed in Kauban Center?
10:05Okay.
10:06So, we have socialized fees.
10:09We have a different fee for students.
10:12And, of course, like what I've said, we have Kauban Day that is for free consultation.
10:17And the succeeding three more sessions are for free as well.
10:24So, that's how we address that, you know, the inaccessibility because of the high fees.
10:31We really try.
10:33Especially now.
10:34Because I experienced going through a three-hour session, so you can imagine the bill.
10:39But anyhow.
10:41But anyhow.
10:42Kireng, how do you also see the current mental health situation, at least from what you're observing of the Philippines
10:50in general?
10:52Well, it's very encouraging.
10:54Especially that you now can see a lot of different mental health advocates, a lot of different programs, a lot
11:01of different, you know.
11:02It is now included in stakeholders planning, strategic planning.
11:08But then again, the implementation is where the challenges lie.
11:14There's still the stigma surrounding mental health.
11:19While awareness is there, but sometimes awareness is not translated to accessibility.
11:26As you were saying, it is really high, you know, when we talk about the fees.
11:32And most often than not, people will come and talk to me that, you know, mental health is very important.
11:39We need you in our organizations.
11:40But the moment we give them the bill or we give them the proposal, the reply would be, we don't
11:47have a budget.
11:48And that is really sad.
11:51While we can do services for free, but the sustainability of the profession, we also need to think of it
11:58as well.
11:59So, lately, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, we're also seeing a rising case, no?
12:06So, it's true.
12:08A rising case of anxiety, burnout, and even depression.
12:13It's being mentioned more often compared to how it was before.
12:19So, what do you think are the biggest factors that are driving these?
12:25Okay.
12:27That's a good question.
12:29Because I am also seeing a lot of different posts saying perhaps,
12:34that's why I'm depressed, no?
12:37The buwag there is not the cause, but the trigger of depression or the trigger of the suicide ideation.
12:45When we talk about the factors, we are talking about different factors coming from the biological or the genetics.
12:53And then you have the psychological and the sociocultural.
12:57So, when we speak of the biological, I'm pretty sure you're aware of the saying that,
13:03if somebody in the family has that,
13:05I don't want to be a person.
13:06No?
13:07I don't want to be a person.
13:08I don't want to be a person.
13:10But I heard about that.
13:11Yeah, these are very common, common misconceptions.
13:15But genetics would also, it is also good because when you look at the family tree,
13:21and if it's there, that it means that you are at risk.
13:25It doesn't mean that you will have the same, but you are at risk.
13:28Just like physical conditions as diabetes, hypertensive, you know,
13:32the doctor will ask you, is there somebody in the family suffering this or that?
13:36Now, having all this, you know, the biological, psychological is the person variable.
13:42Like, am I the person who sees things negatively?
13:46Like, I complain with everything that I see, you know, with everything that I experience.
13:52Or am I the type who sees all things bright and beautiful, no?
13:58So the psychological aspect is there.
14:01And then the sociocultural would be your environment,
14:04your experiences from childhood up to the present time.
14:07And, of course, the different pressures we are experiencing right now.
14:11You have economic pressure.
14:13You have the family conflict.
14:15You have, if you're a student, the academic pressure and everything, you know,
14:20what the society expects of you and what you see in the social media.
14:27You know, all these different pressures may be factors that may contribute
14:31to the development of anxiety, depression, and worse is, you know, suicide ideation.
14:39So, I'm glad that you also mentioned that there are several factors that are driving, you know, these.
14:48But I'm curious about the history part, you know, because I look at it while listening to you
14:55as more of a, because it's a risk.
14:58So that means there is a, not necessarily, but at least in the context of being more preventive about it.
15:06For example, if somebody watching us seemed to have that history in the family,
15:12what would be your preventive suggestions?
15:16Okay.
15:17There is what we say as knowledge is power.
15:20So if you know that somebody in the family has that, then by all means, manage your stress.
15:26Do your, you know, self-care every day.
15:31Self-care should be part of your routine.
15:34You do not do self-care only when you are tired.
15:37You do not take a pause only when you are tired.
15:40But you do self-care as part of your routine, just like eating breakfast, drinking coffee.
15:47You know, self-care doesn't mean you have to go to spa and spend a lot of money.
15:51Self-care can only be being with yourself, breathing exercise, taking a walk.
15:56And this can, you know, this can, you can only, you only need 15 minutes or 30 minutes in doing
16:04that.
16:05So practice that.
16:06Actually, you raised a very good point.
16:10Because if we look at also family history with other physical illness, no risk, no?
16:17For example, if they're, they have a history of hypertension, then they're encouraged to have an active lifestyle.
16:23Yes.
16:23As a preventive measure.
16:24Not necessarily that they will be hypertensive themselves, but at least for them to avoid that.
16:30So if, if there is a history, then you raise a good point.
16:33That means that's also added motivation for the person.
16:37To take care of themselves.
16:38Yes.
16:39Because, you know, unmanaged stress will, you know, it will build up.
16:43That's why you reached the point of, you know, the burnt out point.
16:47Correct.
16:47So to prevent us from reaching that is to manage your stresses.
16:52Know what is worth your energy, no?
16:56And most especially, know how to create boundaries.
17:01Like after office hours, do not take calls, do not read your emails.
17:07Declare that as your me time.
17:09This is the time for me to watch Netflix, no?
17:12So do not entertain any calls or texts.
17:14And then they would say, but my boss still calls me, then it is really up to you not to
17:19answer that, no?
17:20That is your right.
17:21Especially if your family has a history.
17:23Yes.
17:24Especially if your family has a history.
17:26You know that you have the predisposition, no?
17:30The predisposing factor.
17:32So now this time is from the perspective of family, of friends, no?
17:37Or even colleagues.
17:38What are also the common warning signs that they can already say that my sibling or my colleague or my
17:49friend might be going through something?
17:53Right.
17:53Well, first is the marked change in the behavior.
18:00Like some of us would say, well, there was a time when this person was really very outgoing.
18:05You know, he's very sociable.
18:07And right now, he changed.
18:09He only stays in the room.
18:10He doesn't want to talk to me or doesn't even go out with the family.
18:14So that's a marked change in the behavior.
18:16Another would be, and the most important one is the impairment.
18:21Like, is this, the manifestation is already, you know, hampering the functionality of this person.
18:30The person has high absenteeism.
18:33He doesn't want to go to work anymore.
18:35Doesn't want to go to school anymore.
18:37Doesn't even take a bath, no?
18:39Even the very basic functioning that he cannot anymore perform doesn't, you know, it's already messy.
18:46You know, that, no?
18:49The impairment.
18:50Another manifestation of impairment is also relationship.
18:55The person now has a lot of, you know, conflicts here and there, bickering here and there, very irritable.
19:02Then they would say,
19:06But sometimes it's not that.
19:09Sometimes the color is actually a manifestation of any mental health concerns.
19:15Because irritability is one.
19:18So again, if there's impairment, that is a red flag already.
19:22And if the person cannot sleep anymore, and usually that's the complaint, I cannot sleep, my sleep is disturbed, I'm
19:30having insomnia.
19:31And we tend to self-medicate, like, you know, just buying over-the-counter medications for us to sleep.
19:39Or if not, even abuse, antihistamine, mga cold tablets or medications for us to be able to sleep.
19:47So those things.
19:48And correct me if I'm wrong, because you mentioned about marked or impairment of a person's behavior.
19:58From what I know, and then you can correct me, is among the more noticeable ones are if the person
20:06used to be very passionate about something and then loses that.
20:12Like, plays basketball every day and doesn't want to play basketball anymore.
20:18Or into whatever activities that they used to really are so passionate about and all of a sudden…
20:25Doesn't want to do it anymore.
20:26We call that, we term that as anhedonia.
20:28Yeah, that is one of the symptoms of depression.
20:33And also the…
20:34Now, the other thing also is, how can, like, whether it's the person or the friend of a person, would
20:41be able to distinguish na its sadness?
20:45Or is it really depression?
20:49What's the…
20:50Because there are also times in which the person is just grieving.
20:55Yeah.
20:55So how can we tell that this is still part of the grieving process, or this has already evolved into
21:04depression?
21:05Okay, so if we're trying to distinguish between grieving or grief and depression,
21:13in the person who is depressed, loses his self-esteem, like worthlessness is there, hopelessness is present, purposelessness.
21:24No, what am I good at?
21:26I cannot do this.
21:27I'm bad.
21:28I'm not good enough.
21:29These are the narratives.
21:31But the person who is grieving still has intact self-esteem.
21:34Now, if the person, the depressive, the depressed person would want to die, or the thoughts of, you know, of
21:43death as being entertained by this person,
21:47because of this worthlessness and everything, of this burdensomeness, the person, the bereavement, wanted to die because he wants to
21:56be with the loved one who passed away.
22:02It's not because he lost his hope or he lost his will to live, but it is really wanting to
22:09be with the person.
22:11The depressed person can easily teared without any cause at all, like, makaheer lang oog sad music and cry, or
22:25any good words will cry, or for no reason at all will cry.
22:29But the other one cries with the thoughts of the loved one.
22:32So, these are the distinguishings.
22:34Ah, so you, the person can pinpoint the trigger, no?
22:39But if the person is at a loss for the trigger, then it's likely, you know?
22:45Now, the other thing also is, what about the period, no?
22:48So, for example, you mentioned about buwag or about loss of a loved one.
22:53And is there a window also na, at least from your observation, would say, ah, it's still X days.
23:00So, this is normal.
23:02Yeah.
23:02Yeah.
23:02Yeah, for depression, it is two weeks.
23:05I've heard about that also.
23:06Every day or nearly every day.
23:08So, if you are sad for three consecutive days, that is not depression.
23:12If you don't want to get up, if you don't want to take a bath for three days,
23:16you don't want to see people for three days or five days, that is not depression.
23:20But if it's two weeks every day, nearly every day, then that's already a candidate for clinical depression.
23:29So, you've mentioned because that is on the physical side that we talk about or an assignable cause.
23:37But what about also social media these days and how is it helping or not helping the rising cases also
23:47of depression?
23:48Yeah, social media, of course, is inherently not harmful.
23:54It is, in fact, very useful, being a source of the information, a source of support as well, and connection.
24:06Social media is very, very helpful.
24:10But the question lies in its use.
24:14The consumers, how do you consume social media?
24:17And how are you able to discriminate what you are seeing in the social media and your own realities?
24:24The pressure happens when you tend to compare yourself to the reals that you're seeing,
24:32to the ideal beauty that social media is displaying, you know, the flawless skin, the very thin body.
24:41You know, a lot of teenagers that I have encountered would tend to purge, you know, because they are fat.
24:49They call themselves fat, even if they are really, you know, their BMI is still very okay.
24:56But because of what they're seeing in the social media, then, you know, they tend to compare.
25:03That can be harmful for the consumers and not being able to discriminate that this is my reality
25:11and these are fantasies may not necessarily be, you know, happening in real life.
25:18Another thing as well, as I was saying before we started, I'd like to talk about the verter effect.
25:27The verter effect is when suicide has ensued.
25:33Most often than not, we see different posts about it.
25:38Or if not, some may even do live if they're in the location.
25:42But the verter effect, you know, this verter is a character of a book written by Johann Wolfgang Gertha.
25:53So, way back 18th century pa, no?
25:56That was 1774.
25:58So, in that book, verter died by suicide because he fell in love with another woman who's in relationship with
26:08another man.
26:08And in the end, that woman decided to stick, no, to her relationship.
26:14And so, because he was heartbroken, and so, therefore, he decided to take his own life.
26:20And because of that, in that book, the book was so popular that a lot of young men copied his
26:26style and even copied the way he died.
26:29So, social media plays a vital role because social media is very effective in terms of influencing the minds, influencing
26:39people, the readership, and the consumers.
26:43So, therefore, we are advocating to really be very sensitive in, as we talk about mental health,
26:53mental health, we make sure that we also include psychoeducation, that mental health is something that you may not carry
27:02by yourself.
27:03There are help available for you.
27:05And then we also post the different crisis numbers that they can avail of, and these are for free.
27:12What are the usual healthy digital habits that you suggest, man?
27:19Yeah.
27:20Well, even the consumption, the number of hours that you spend in social media, you have to limit it as
27:29well.
27:29And if there are things that also irritate you, why read?
27:35Just scroll up.
27:36Again, no, create a boundary between what is good for you and what is already harmful.
27:45And it is the person who can determine that.
27:48Like, how many hours will I spend?
27:50Like, for example, okay, I'll just use social media as a way of distressing, as a way of taking a
27:57break.
27:57Not my life revolving inside social media that I spend, you know, my waking hours until my sleeping hours, you
28:05know, utilizing or consuming social media.
28:08So that, you know, create your own boundaries, know your limits, draw the line.
28:13And if it will help, you have your cell phone, you can alarm.
28:17Like, if I say, I only will spend one hour or 30 minutes, then alarm a timer so that when
28:25it's already one hour, then stop using social media.
28:30And you can also chime in, you know, because in the past, people would normally dismiss unfriending as immaturity.
28:39But what many people do not realize, unfriending is also a form of self-care.
28:44Yes.
28:45Yeah.
28:46I'm glad that you agree.
28:47And I'm glad also that at least now, social media has options to unfollow.
28:53Yes.
28:53So that you would not see the post anymore.
28:55I agree.
28:55It's no longer necessary to unfriend.
28:57Yes.
28:58And then now, there's also an option that I discovered that you can also click that I don't want to
29:04see this post.
29:05Yes.
29:06And it has helped.
29:08Yes, very much so.
29:10Sometimes I am tempted to post, thanks for the unfollow button.
29:15Yes.
29:15Correct.
29:15Very true.
29:16That's part of your self-care.
29:18Correct.
29:18That's part of drawing boundary.
29:20If it triggers something, then don't.
29:22Right.
29:22And it's their right to post what they want to post.
29:26Correct.
29:26It's their right to say what they want to say.
29:28So it is now your reaction that you can control.
29:32So you cannot change anyone.
29:34You cannot change the way they see things, they say things, or they do things.
29:38But you can always change the way you react to it.
29:41Correct.
29:42So how do I react to it?
29:43I will not read.
29:44If you say that that's immaturity, well, it's up to you.
29:47Correct.
29:47Again, how they judge my behavior is their own responsibility, not mine.
29:53And I hope this conversation will also help normalize that.
29:57Because I still know of some people in which they look at it like it's immaturity.
30:00But it's a form of self-care.
30:02Yeah.
30:03At least in my opinion.
30:04And I'm glad that you agree.
30:06Now, this one has something to do with, because you mentioned that there's also the biological side.
30:13Because I know of some people who are uncomfortable when it comes to medication.
30:20Can you articulate more on that space, on how it can actually help?
30:26Thank you for that.
30:27That's one of our challenges as well.
30:30In my practice, people would come.
30:33No, the impairment is really great.
30:36But still, if you mention medication, they would say no because of this and that.
30:42Because we are afraid that we will get addicted or we will get psyched or the side effects of this.
30:47But it's actually the other way around.
30:50You know, medication helps.
30:54Our brain also gets sick.
30:57Good point.
30:58Yeah.
30:58Brain is an organ.
31:01You know?
31:01And as much as the heart is also an organ.
31:04True.
31:04So why, when the heart is sick, we drink the medication for the heart?
31:11So why, when the brain is sick, we don't take medication for it?
31:15When it really is needed.
31:17When speaking of biological aspect, for example, people who are, you know, experiencing depression,
31:24the neurotransmitters are affected.
31:27The serotonin level is low.
31:29So how do you deal with that?
31:34Well, of course, mindfulness, meditation, some therapies can.
31:37But in severe cases, especially, again, if the impairment is too severe, then they really need to take medication.
31:46And while taking medication, you have to be managed by a psychiatrist.
31:51So you don't just take it only when you need to take it.
31:55This is another concern because patients who would take medication, and the moment they feel okay, they will stop.
32:03Please don't, no?
32:05Same with maintenance meds.
32:07Yes.
32:08If the medication needs to be stopped, it is the psychiatrist who will taper it off.
32:14And it is not stopping like full stop, hard stop, but it has to be tapered off.
32:21Like if you're taking 10 milligrams, then perhaps the psychiatrist will change it to 5 milligrams,
32:28and then will change it to an alternate day of taking it.
32:32Because there will be, you know, a not so nice effect if you stop it like cold turkey.
32:39Like one, like, what's this?
32:44Antibiotics.
32:44Antibiotics, yeah.
32:45You don't stop it at will.
32:47And sayang, because you have been investing already.
32:51The neurotransmitters are already coming into, you know, normal level.
32:56And then you stop because you're feeling okay.
32:58But no, for it to be normalized, it has to take in as much as 3 to 6 months.
33:04So once you stop, and then you experience it again, and then you will come and say,
33:09I'm not feeling good again, and then back to zero again.
33:13Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, these are episodic.
33:19Episodic meaning to say, you may feel fine now, and then when there's trigger,
33:24then you will have the depressive episode again.
33:26So it has to be managed well.
33:28Now, earlier we talked about manifestations, no?
33:33And I forgot to ask you, I've also encountered some people, whether direct or indirectly,
33:41that they seem to look okay.
33:43They look successful.
33:45They look bubbly.
33:46They sound like everything is going for them.
33:50And then all of a sudden, there's depression after all.
33:55What are your thoughts about that?
33:57Well, well, depression is very, what do you call this, you can mask it.
34:11That's one thing about depression.
34:13You can be okay in front of other people, but deep down, you are really crushing inside.
34:20And because of that, depression is highly, there's high misconception of depression.
34:27People would say, okay lang naman siya.
34:30And then, ano nagkalit naman na inani na siya.
34:33Because again, it can be mask.
34:36That's one thing about depression.
34:38But the person is going through it.
34:41There's what we call, when we speak of manifestation,
34:43there's what we call subjective manifestations and objective manifestation.
34:50Subjective is when the person is going through it, is the one feeling it.
34:56The one being aware of it.
34:58Other people may not see it.
35:01Objective manifestations is when you can see it in your bare eyes.
35:04You know, crying, droop shoulders, very sad, sluggish movements, and things like that.
35:15But that's the reality of depression.
35:17It can be subjective, and it can also be very overt, that people can see it.
35:22And just a little bit of, wow, we're close, and including our viewers.
35:28The other thing actually, which I would tell my close friends,
35:30I can smile, and I can mask everything.
35:37But the thing that they noticed that I couldn't, is sense of humor.
35:42Yeah.
35:42When that is absolutely gone, even if I'm smiling, then no side comments, then...
35:48They know na.
35:50Those who know, those who are close to you will know that there's something wrong.
35:55And, Sigura, I mean, the next thing I would like to share,
35:58when you know that there's something wrong, how do you deal with that?
36:02That's my question, Sigura.
36:04So, most often, friends wouldn't know how to talk to you and say that perhaps you need help.
36:12It becomes a challenge to them.
36:14But what we can do is, again, be very objective.
36:17How?
36:20Prevent or do not say, I think there's something wrong with you.
36:24No, don't say that.
36:25But be very objective.
36:26Or you need more sleep.
36:27Or you need more sleep, no?
36:29But what you can say is, for example, DJ, I observe you lose the joking side of you.
36:37So, that's very objective.
36:39Because DJ will say, okay...
36:41Yeah, that's true.
36:42Yeah, I agree, no?
36:44I won't be defensive.
36:45But if you tell me, DJ, there's something wrong with you.
36:48Then I say, huh?
36:50What do you mean?
36:51Then I will be defensive.
36:52But if you're very objective, no?
36:55I saw you crying.
36:56I noticed that you don't go out with us anymore.
37:00I noticed that, you know, this and that.
37:03You don't play with the games.
37:04You don't joke around anymore.
37:07Maybe you want to talk it over.
37:09Maybe you'd like us to discuss it.
37:12That is, you know, I can suggest.
37:15That's a way of approaching it.
37:17Again, be very objective.
37:18What you can see, what you can hear, what you can feel.
37:21Then those are the things that you can say.
37:23Instead of being very vague and saying, I think you need help.
37:28When you say, I think you need help.
37:29You need rest.
37:32It's like, what do you mean?
37:34Yeah.
37:37Then the person will become defensive.
37:39Of course, when you're defensive, you will, huh?
37:42What are you talking about?
37:43But if you are very objective, you know, I saw a while ago, you went to the bathroom, and when
37:51you went out, your eyes are fluffy and things like that.
37:54That's very objective.
37:56So the person will not say, no, you're lying or you're making things up.
38:00But be very objective.
38:02You mentioned also, and I'll have to go back also on social media before the closing questions.
38:08Because you mentioned earlier about social media and what's the...
38:12The birth heir effect.
38:14The good thing about social media also, it's because the level of awareness has also increased.
38:21But do you think, in a way, it's also contributing to more people thinking that they are depressed, even if
38:30they are not?
38:31That's what they're saying.
38:33That's what they're saying.
38:34Because a lot of people will self-diagnose.
38:37And in fact, a lot of clients will come to the center and say, you know, I have ADHD.
38:44You know, I have this and that.
38:45And then ask, what made you say so?
38:48Because I saw in TikTok and, you know, all the things that I have seen, I can resonate with this.
38:54That is really very dangerous.
38:56Well, yes, perhaps that could be a downside of it.
39:01Too much awareness.
39:02Too much awareness.
39:03But perhaps...
39:04And assumptions.
39:04And assumptions.
39:05So, always we educate and tell people to please do not self-diagnose.
39:11Please, if you suspect that you have this and that, by all means consult a mental health professional.
39:17And this is also a growing impression.
39:21And this is your expertise.
39:24And you're also more in tune with the younger population.
39:28Is it also true that there's a concern that the younger people tend to be less, for the lack of
39:37a better word, resilient and more prone to depression?
39:41Is that true or false?
39:43They are more vocal.
39:44Well, they are more aware.
39:47It is very true.
39:49Especially the Gen Zs.
39:50They are the ones who will say, I have this and that.
39:53And they advocate for mental health.
39:57If they are more vulnerable, perhaps because they are vocal about it.
40:02But another thing that they are claiming is because there is a decrease in social connection.
40:09They are more into video games, you know, using of online platforms and communicating or socializing.
40:18And having virtual friends.
40:19And having virtual friends.
40:20Maybe that can contribute to that vulnerability.
40:24And again, going back to what I said about not being able to discriminate the reality and fantasy.
40:31That can also play form, can form part in them having all these depressive manifestations.
40:40So now I promise, because this has been interesting and I have a lot of questions, but this one is
40:46on the last few questions.
40:47I'm just reminded that in school, there is such a thing as physical education.
40:53And that is supposed to be among the many promote active lifestyle.
40:58But how do you think can mental health education be also integrated in schools and universities?
41:08Yes, we actually have that.
41:10I was the one who created the syllabus, the curriculum for mental health.
41:15So in USC, we implemented that as part of the elective for different courses.
41:22So it is really best that we have mental health education.
41:29We include that in our curriculum.
41:31Because as you were saying, mentioning about physical health or physical education, educating our students about mental health, how to
41:40manage their stress, how to, you know, do emotion regulation, is also building a resilient community.
41:50So that's part of it.
41:52And finally, again, I think there will be more parts of this conversation.
41:59But for today's episode also, in the overall, from what you've experienced, from what you've objectively saw, what also made
42:12you believe, and I hope you do, about the human being's ability to heal?
42:22Oh, I believe in that very much.
42:25I mean, taking from my own experience, you know, as I've shared now before we started with this discussion, I
42:33too went on the same, you know, depression and anxiety way back 2015.
42:37And when I learned that this is something psychological, I decided to get better.
42:47So when I, when I give my talk about, you know, the mental health, I have this one talk and
42:53I, I, I said that the best way to heal is to decide on your healing.
43:01You need to have that will, you need to have that will, because if you don't have that will, then
43:07it will be very challenging, you know, whatever medications therapy, but you are not really into it, not really participating.
43:15Some of us may heal on our own, just like what I did, you know, I was given anti-anxiety
43:22medication, but it wasn't doing me well.
43:25So I decided to just do it by myself and, um, I named it as befriending, befriending anxiety, befriending depression.
43:35I talked to them.
43:36So when I feel them, I said, you're here again, you're disturbing me again.
43:40So again, no, our, we have our way of healing ourselves, but then it depends on the ability.
43:49And again, um, not to mention, it also depends on the severity.
43:53If you are experiencing mild to moderate, then perhaps you can do self-healing.
43:59But if it's already severe, then by all means seek professional help.
44:03So thank you very much, Dr. Cheryl.
44:06It's been a healthy, mentally healthy conversation with you today.
44:14And we'd also like to thank Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
44:20So before we go, perhaps today is a good time to send a message, make a call or spend a
44:26few extra minutes with someone you care about and take care of your goals, your career and your responsibilities.
44:33But don't forget to take care of yourself and the people who matter the most.
44:38I'm DJ Moises.
44:39This is Beyond the Headlines.
44:41Have a good afternoon.
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