Has anyone asked you that question lately? Or have you dared to ask that question to someone you love? Probably not. That’s because, unfortunately, talking about mental health is not an everyday conversation.
Expressing concern to a friend or family member for their mental well-being can take courage. Empathy is also needed. And it may feel difficult or uncomfortable to open up.
mental health matters
“I wish someone had asked me about the state of my mental health 10 years ago,” IT expert Richard Caballero told me in a Zoom interview. “I could have done something about it and avoided the harrowing experience I had during a business trip to Brazil.”
Caballero was in the lounge at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, when he began to hyperventilate. His heart was racing. He was having an anxiety attack.
“I have traveled many times before, but I have never felt this way,” Caballero shared. “I was sweating profusely. And so the doctors took me to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. They had to keep me up all night.”
Caballero was the vice president of a global software company, doing business in more than 50 countries around the world. His work was physically and mentally exhausting, to say the least.
“I wasn’t getting enough sleep with jet lag, and stress, which I shrugged off all these years,” adds Caballero. “What happened to me in Brazil 10 years ago was a wake-up call, a reflection of the state of my mental health and how it affected my well-being. It made me realize that I was vulnerable too.”
Medicareplus, one of the nation’s leading HMOs, recently entered into a strategic partnership with HMS to offer MindWoRx to its plan holders: (from left) HMS Country Head Eric Yam, MedicarePlus President Jayjay Viray , and the vice president, Jason Jalandoni.
Mental illness: a silent pandemic
There has been an increased focus on mental health, especially during the pandemic. However, many who feel anxious and depressed are still afraid to ask the question due to the stigma associated with mental illness.
“Stigma and discrimination can make a person’s mental health problems worse,” Caballero said. “Thank God, the younger generation is very aware of their feelings. Also, they are the most vocal to really address this issue.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than six million Filipinos suffer from depression and anxiety. The WHO also estimates that mental health conditions in the Philippines are costing the country P68.9 billion, which includes lost labor and reduced productivity.
Aside from stigma, the two main barriers for Filipinos seeking mental health support are: inaccessibility of services and financial limitations in availing services.
The Philippines ranks third among the countries with the highest rates of mental disorders in the Western Pacific Region.
If you think about it, mental illness is a much larger type of pandemic that, if not addressed, can seriously affect millions of Filipinos.
Richard Caballero, founder and CEO of Healthy Minds Solution.
Mental health solutions are just an app away
According to Caballero, his fear of mental health 10 years ago inspired him to create Healthy Mind Solutions (HMS), a Canadian wellness company that seeks to break the stigma by providing businesses with mental health solutions and services that are effective, confidential, convenient , research-based and affordable.
“Again, it is very important to break the stigma associated with mental illness,” Caballero emphasized. “Once people become more open about their mental health issues, they will feel less isolated. They will realize that what they are feeling right now is normal.”
That is the first step towards the healing process. And that’s also where HMS can help you on your mental health journey.
HMS introduces MindWoRx in the Philippines. It is a 100% web-based online mental health platform for businesses looking to help their employees overcome anxiety and depression, and help them manage the stress and pressures of everyday life at work and at home. .
At the height of the pandemic, many corporations around the world were caught off guard by the impact of the pandemic on their businesses and workforces.
“The pandemic lasted longer than they thought,” said Caballero. “Most companies hit rock bottom and there was a lot of attrition.”
Today, corporations are asking the right question: “How do we prepare our employees, physically and mentally, for the next pandemic?”
“MindWoRx is an innovative, self-guided behavioral therapy platform with more than 150,000 users worldwide using the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach,” explained Caballero. The platform includes a web-based anxiety and depression screening test, online mental recovery and resilience courses, and a community support forum supervised by licensed therapists.
“One of the principles of our software is that it is completely anonymous. You can take advantage of the full functionality of the software without having to reveal who you are,” explained Caballero.
It is backed by more than 15 years of peer-reviewed clinical research supporting its effectiveness and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAAA), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) of Canada and the Philippines Mental Health Law
“HR professionals are facing growing mental health challenges in their workforce. HR professionals are looking for an innovative, preventative solution that not only helps manage their employees’ mental health issues, but also gives them tools to help them become more mentally resilient. HMS has the solution”, enthused Caballero.
One company that recognizes the importance of mental fitness is Medicareplus, one of the nation’s leading HMOs.
“They recently entered into a strategic partnership with HMS to offer MindWoRx to their plan holders,” added Caballero.
How does MindWorx work?
MindWoRx has anonymous self-guided assessment and behavioral therapy courses to aid in mental recovery and build mental resilience for employees. It’s confidential and available 24/7 with an annual license fee that gives you unlimited use for a full year at the same cost as a therapy session.
Mental resilience courses address issues related to relationships, dispute resolution, shyness and sensitivity, role transitions, and grief and loss.
With its suite of research-based programs, employees with strong mental wellness can better adapt to life-changing events, cope with turbulent times, manage work pressures, and bounce back quickly from hardships and tragedies.
“Management will benefit from MindWoRx as it reduces the incidence of sick days related to mental health or family emergency reasons for absence,” explained Caballero. “Employees are less likely to leave the company and therefore lower HR turnover.”
HMS MindWoRx is a unique, self-managed platform that is scalable, efficient, and customized to the needs of Filipinos.
“Our products and services are also designed to be affordable for the average Filipino. Part of our defense is to donate licenses to those who cannot pay for them,” Caballero explained. “Our mission is to make HMS accessible to as many Filipino workers as possible. When employees are mentally fit, they are happier and more productive both in the workplace and at home.”
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For inquiries visit www.healthymindsolutions.net and https://vimeo.com/644860040, https://vimeo.com/644864836 and https://vimeo.com/644867231.
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