A strong advocate for mental health awareness and wellness, Upjohn, a Pfizer division, led a discussion on the state of mental health landscape in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press briefing entitled “Adapting to the new normal: A Dialogue on mental health, resilience, and hope,” Upjohn invited the media for a discussion on mental wellness as Filipinos transition to the “new normal.”
Melissa Comia is General Manager of Upjohn, a Pfizer division. She is a homegrown Pfizer talent, having served as the youngest member of Pfizer’s Leadership Team prior to her appointment as Upjohn’s GM. Born and raised in Baguio City, Melissa is a licensed pharmacist who earned her pharmacy degree from St. Louis University and her MBA in Marketing from the Asian Institute of Management.
Melissa received the Philippines Women Leaders Award at the 2019 World Women Leadership Congress and is passionate about diversity in the workplace, microfinancing and empowering small businesses, and mental health awareness.
“The COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful for people, affecting our mental wellbeing, so we wanted to continue the conversation on how we can take care of our mental health at a time when there’s confusion, fear, and anxiety, ” said Upjohn Philippines General Manager Melissa Comia. “The way we live now is different, from our ways of working to going mostly virtual in our social interactions. Adapting to this new way of living has brought about emotional distress and many Filipinos are affected.”
Guest speaker Dr. Robert Buenaventura, Consultant Psychiatrist at UERM Memorial Medical Center and a Life Fellow of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, explains, “Fear, worry, and anxiety are common responses to a major health crisis, together with other known psychological reactions such as stress, loneliness, and agitation.”
In the Philippines, the National Center for Mental Health saw a jump in the number of daily calls they’ve been receiving since the lockdown took effect –from an average of 13-15 daily calls from May 2019 to February 2020 to 30-35 daily calls from March to May 2020. Dr. Buenaventura also shared the preliminary results of their survey on the “Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Elderly Filipinos” which showed that 8% of respondents exhibited moderate to moderately severe anxiety and 9% of respondents exhibited moderate to moderately severe depression.
Dr. Robert D. Buenaventura
Dr. Buenaventura is a Life Fellow and currently serving as Treasurer at the Philippine Psychiatric Association. He is also a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Psychiatry.
He is the Head of the Section of Psychiatry at the Manila Theological Colleges, College of Medicine, and Visiting Consultant at the Department of Psychiatry of the UERM Memorial Medical Center.
With more than two decades of experience in the field of psychiatry, Dr. Buenaventura has presented and published papers on depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and psychogeriatrics.
“People with pre-existing depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders are at risk of experiencing higher anxiety levels during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Dr. Buenaventura added. “They may require more support or access to mental health treatment during this period, and this has become a strong concern for mental health experts. Maintaining good mental health has always been important, but it has become even more important today.”
Dr. Buenaventura’s presentation concluded with practical tips on how Filipinos can build resilience as the pandemic continues to shape and change our ways of living. By building resilience, people can adapt in the face of adversity, threats, trauma, and tragedy.
Ms. Bianca Valerio
Bianca began her career as a runway and print model. Since then, she has added events and TV host, professional makeup artist, and author/columnist to her resume.
In 2011, Bianca published her now bestselling book “Face to Face: The Healing Power of Make-up.” She has also launched a hosiery line, Leg Love, and a make-up line for Colour Collection Cosmetics. Among her impressive accolades, she is also a personality development coach focusing on confidence-building with a passionate advocacy for mental health, and is a trauma-informed life coach in Neuro Linguistic Programming.
Among the things that can be done to build resilience is being more self-aware; this enforces awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, resulting to better understanding of oneself. Despite what’s happening in the world right now, remaining hopeful is important – looking toward the future and accepting change makes it easier to face challenges with less anxiety10. Practicing self-care is also beneficial to one’s mental health. Tend to your needs and feelings, spend time on hobbies, get plenty of sleep, meditate, and practice stress management and relaxation techniques.
Keeping communication lines open is another important coping strategy, so check in on loved ones confined at home who may feel lonely and isolated. Get involved with random acts of kindness – there is joy in helping and supporting communities in need.
In these difficult times, lend ears to listen, lend hands to help. Share words of encouragement and share stories of inspiration.
