27/10/2025
This October, The UPLB Jocks stands in solidarity with the recognition of mental health as a necessity – amplifying calls for establishing accessible, affordable, and quality mental healthcare in the country, and its recognition as a right.
Despite the enactment of the Philippine Mental Health Act in 2018, mental illnesses became the third most common disabilities in the country, with the prevalence of mental disorders ranging from 11.3~11.6%, with an increasing rate of 2.0% yearly. In addition to this, 5% of total healthcare expenditures are only allocated to mental healthcare, with 0.41 psychiatrists attending to 100,000 patients – which clearly states that there is still a gap that needs to be filled.
These numbers reveal a painful truth: while progress has been made, the fight for mental health equity in the Philippines is far from over. The lack of adequate resources, the persistent stigma surrounding mental illness, and the silence that still shrouds countless personal struggles continue to hinder many Filipinos from seeking and receiving the care they need.
As an organization that values communication, connection, and community, The UPLB Jocks recognizes the vital role of open dialogue and compassion in breaking the barriers around mental health. We believe that every voice matters — and that conversations can save lives.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we urge everyone to take action: listen without judgment, speak with kindness, and stand with those who are silently struggling. Let us advocate not only for awareness, but for tangible change — for stronger mental health programs in schools, workplaces, and communities, and for a system that treats mental well-being with the same urgency as physical health.
Because mental health is not just a personal battle — it is a shared responsibility. Together, let us build a future where empathy leads, stigma ends, and help is always within reach.
𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗮. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.
