TAYO Naman! provides education advocates the knowledge to care for their mental health
There are five basic emotions: joy, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust, which when triggered causes physiological responses and results to either positive and negative behaviors.
Dr. Marc Eric S. Reyes, Life Member of the Philippine Mental Health Association Inc. and President of the Psychological Association of the Philippines, stressed the need to recognize the impact of our emotions and the importance of knowing how to express as well as regulate them.
Here are some tips from him:
Identify your emotions and track your mood using a journal. Whether good or bad, he said that people need to accept their emotions. However, he warned against engaging in “toxic positivity” or forcing oneself to always stay positive – and only positive – while neglecting the realities and acknowledging difficult emotions. When experiencing intense emotions, he suggested using breathing techniques as well as temporary disconnecting and giving space for one’s self.
Mental health literacy. Dr. Reyes underscored the need to broaden mental health literacy in the country to aid in the recognition, management, and prevention of mental disorders.
“We have to break the stigma and stereotypes on expressing our emotions. It’s okay not to be okay. Every emotion is important and has a purpose. If we remove fear, for example, we will do things without thinking and engage in risky behavior. There is an urgent need to establish psychosocial education in the curriculum so students are able to acknowledge and regulate their emotions early in life,” Dr. Reyes said.
Exercise and diet are also needed to nourish mental health. He said that exercise allows the brain to release “feel-good” chemicals throughout the body. Physical activity also reduces anxiety and depression and enhances self-esteem. Compounds in certain foods, on the other hand, help release hormones such as serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression.
Dr. Reyes shared these tips during TAYO Naman! a 14-part DepEd and Global Filipino Teachers webinar series focused on psychosocial issues affecting education stakeholders especially during the pandemic.
TAYO Naman! provides education advocates the knowledge to care for their mental health. More than just an online resource, the program is evolving to become an avenue where everyone can share their struggles and triumphs in beating the pandemic.
It is spearheaded by DepEd-DRRMS and Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) Employee Welfare Division in partnership with Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) Series on Psychosocial Support Services, the Philippine Mental Health Association, Inc., MAGIS Creative Spaces, and Unilab Foundation.
“Many people have been going through a myriad of emotions in this pandemic. Mental health is an urgent issue affecting lives across age groups. Psychosocial support is essential and Globe continues to find ways to help communities, since the mental impact of the pandemic will linger on even when it has passed,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
TAYO Naman! Webinars are held every Friday until August 20 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. and streamed live over:
DepED Philippines https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfEducation.PH/
Deped DRRMS https://www.facebook.com/DepEdDRRMS
Globe Bridgecom https://www.facebook.com/GlobeBridgeCom
Featured photo: Negative Space/Pexels
Iloilo Updates | Connecting News and Brands to You 