An Exploration of Local Images on Mental Health among Barangay Officials of a Rural Barangay in Aurora Province

Abstract

Most of the existing literature in mental health in the Philippines focus on Metro Manila and its residents. There is a lack of literature on mental health in a rural context. Rural officials have a responsibility to ensure available and accessible mental health services to their respective communities. It is important to recognize how rural officials perceive mental health to determine their awareness of it along with their responsibilities with regard to it. This study aimed to determine the following: the participants’ perceptions on mental health, words often associated with mental health, and how they came to associate those words. The study used an explanatory sequential research design. A survey followed by two semi-structured interviews were conducted. The survey was tallied while the interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through thematic analysis. The participants have strong negative perceptions on mental health and associated the words “kalutangan”, “kasiraan”, “sakit sa pag-iisip” with it. They came to associate these words with mental health because of their observation of other people’s behaviors and the portrayal of patients with mental health disorders in entertainment media which became the image they think of when asked about mental health. Despite having negative perceptions, they recognized the importance of good interpersonal relationships in mental health. To summarize, the study showed stigma on mental health in the rural setting.