31/07/2025
2,000 su***des in just six months is a scary and alarming figure. Even with the passage of the Mental Health Law, services remain underfunded and many schools and communities still lack access to psychologists or counselors. These reflect the deep cracks in our mental health system.
I’m a music therapist who works at the intersections of psychology, education, and community work. I’ve seen how accessible, expressive arts programs can give young people a voice, especially those who feel invisible or misunderstood.
Group music-making, songwriting, movement, art and storytelling create safe containers for people to process grief, anger, fear, and shame. Emotions that when left unspoken, often fester into something much heavier.
These can offer much-needed support, not as a substitute for clinical care, but as a frontline, preventive force that builds resilience, connection, and emotional literacy.
We cannot afford to wait for a perfect mental health infrastructure to appear before we act. While continuing to fight for systemic reform, we must also activate the strengths already present in our communities. THE ARTS ARE AMONG THOSE STRENGHTHS. They are woven into our culture, our rituals, our ways of coming together. If we empower local leaders, educators, and therapists to use them wisely, we can create small pockets of hope in places that need them the most.
Sometimes, just being seen, heard, and held in a safe space can change the direction of a life.❤️
TODAY'S EDITORIAL: The Philippine Mental Health Act, Republic Act 11036, was signed way back in June 2018. Among other things, RA 11036 provides that hotlines operating 24/7 must be set up nationwide to assist people with mental health problems, particularly those at risk of committing su***de. https://tinyurl.com/3t5s7mh9
