A website meant to address the mental health concerns and other "silent battles" being fought by personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was unveiled on Thursday, Oct. 12.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the AFP Mental Health Web Page seeks to improve the military personnel's access to mental health support, and ensure the ongoing efforts to address challenges that may impact their well-being and organizational performance.
"Let us all come together to ensure that every member of the AFP is not just physically prepared but also mentally strong and resilient, ready to face any challenge that comes our way," Brawner said in a message read by AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean M. Gaerlan.
The AFP Mental Health Web Page can be accessed at https://mentalhealthprogram.afp.mil.ph/
It was formally opened by the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) as part of the implementation of the AFP's mental health program, "marking a significant advancement in identifying and managing mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of mental health, and fostering a culture of support within the organization."
The program had the theme "TROPA: Troop Resilience, Optimum Performance, and Mental Health Awareness."
Through an online form uploaded on the website, AFP personnel can assess their overall quality of life and general subjective health by answering the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale - Quality of Life (DASS-QOL) test.
The test determines the level of satisfaction and negative emotions of depression, anxiety and stress among the participants, and find ways to address it.
The AFP said that mental health challenges have evolved over the years as internet and social media-related anxiety and depression became big concerns for the general population with the advancement of technology.
It said that cases of adolescent suicide and panic attacks have increased while bullying and disease-related stigma and discrimination also became prevalent, which were further aggravated with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and severe natural disasters.
The OSG said that a review of the mental health conditions experienced by AFP personnel in 2021 showed majority of them "are either stressor-induced, or still pre-existing conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia" as well as alcohol and substance-induced, thus, requiring the need to focus beyond combat and look further into non-medical triggers and effective screening.
The AFP said that it realized the need to refocus its efforts in addressing mental health challenges in consideration of the age group where its new recruits belong.
The AFP Mental Health Web Page was launched in relation with the observance of the World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.