INTRODUCTION: Stigmatizing attitudes are barriers to treatment of mental health disorders. The burden of stigma has not been established locally. This study aimed to assess the stigma in the community by determining the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of barangay residents towards mental health and persons with mental health illness. METHODS: A total of 422 participants were included using convenience sampling. Participants were given self-administered questionnaires that consisted of the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI), and Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS) tools. The mean scores and percentages were computed and compared across the sociodemographic data of the respondents. RESULTS: Knowledge levels were relatively high with a mean score of 26.63. Depression, stress, bipolar disorder and drug addiction were recognized as mental illnesses by the majority of the participants. Scores in the stigmatizing ideologies authoritarianism (3.07) and social restrictiveness (2.58) were low, while the positive ideologies benevolence (3.76) and community health ideology (3.85) had higher scores. Participants were reluctant to work with mentally-ill people (3.18) but were willing to be friends with them (3.87). CONCLUSION This study concludes that the respondents were generally knowledgeable about mental health illness. There was a general acceptance and less stigmatizing attitude, and a willingness to interact with people with mental illness.
psychiatry ; Mental health ; Social Stigma

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is one of the most common preventable risk factors for disease and continues to be a burden on public health, especially in developing countries like the Philippines. This study aims to provide an understanding of underage Filipino smokers that is sensitive to the context within which they are found. METHODS: The narrative approach was used to understand events across time and in a way that gave meaning to the storied experience of the participants. Core story creation and emplotment were used to flesh out the narratives of smoking initiation. The stories of six residents of Barangay Doña Imelda were analyzed to understand the significance of smoking initiation in their context. RESULTS: The overarching narrative found was “putting meaning into time” and from this, three themes emerged: 1) time is meaningful when shared, 2) finding solace from the struggles of daily living, and 3) resisting oppressive structures. Using these insights, the discussion was grounded on anti-smoking campaigns such as the DOH Annual No Smoking Month, the Sin Tax Law, and the Nationwide Smoking Ban. CONCLUSION This paper concludes that a more proactive approach to smoking initiation is warranted by making meaningful alternative activities available to public school children.
Narration ; Smoking ;

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift to delivering health services through telemedicine. This study recognized the perceptions, experiences, and challenges of physicians who practice synchronous teleconsultation in the Philippines. Methods: A qualitative descriptive research design using purposive sampling, eight physicians from NCR were interviewed. Data collected were subjected to thematic analysis for common themes and integrated into an analytic narrative. Results: Eight physicians were included as participants. Different measures taken to remedy the gap included upskilling of physicians, adjustment of clerical work, ensuring data privacy, and creating a conducive workplace. Remote consultations posed limitations on physical examination and emphasized the reliance on diagnostics. Digital platforms used depended on the physician’s preference, type of practice, and patient’s accessibility. This led to an increased dependency on good internet and network service connections to ensure smooth teleconsultations. A lack of respect for the physician’s personal boundaries and work-life balance was cited as a major challenge. Conclusion Telemedicine proved to be an option to provide healthcare despite its limitations, but the shift to its practice exposed many challenges as it is not a replacement for physical consultations.
COVID-19 ; Telemedicine