DEPRESSION. So many suffer from it these days and yet, many times, it goes unrecognized and unchecked. And even when it is discovered, both the patient and the family tend to hide it because of the social stigma that it still carries. The Mental Health Act has already passed, allowing the funding of programs geared towards supporting mental health awareness. But we still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, there is need for a go-to place where depression sufferers can go to ask for help.
Based on data from the DOH and the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 million people are experiencing depression, up by more than 18% from 2005 to 2015. In the Philippines alone, an estimated 3.3 million Filipinos are suffering from depression. Only 1 out of 3 who suffer from depression will seek the help of a specialist and one third will not even be aware of their condition. Also, the most vulnerable sector is the youth, with ages ranging from 15 to 29 years old.
The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) headed by its president, Jean Margaret Goulbourn, has been at the forefront of mental health awareness efforts.Together with Globe acting as technological support, NGF established its 24/7 Emotional Crisis and Suicide Prevention HOPELINE 2919 (toll-free for Globe and TM subscribers) and 0917558-HOPE (4673). HOPELINE 2919 receives an estimated 45-60 calls per day or over 17,500 calls since it was began in 2012.
In 2016, it began what would be a continuing partnership with Globe Telecom, for its “Hope in 40 Seconds” animated video competition.
Read about the beginnings of “Hope in 40 Seconds” here.
The 2018 “Hope in 40 Seconds” animated video competition was launched with the support of the Department of Health (DOH), De La Salle – College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) with support from the Department of Health – National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Recently, the winners were announced.
Topping the other 4 finalists and garnering first place in the competition was the video “Black White Red” created by Ma. Isabella Parca and Alyssa Marie Misa, senior BS in Animation students of iAcademy. represents the feelings of pain, loss, and loneliness (black), the need to hurt oneself (red), and the realization that there is still hope (white).
According to Parca and Misa, their work was inspired by their personal lives. They said their script was drawn out of their common love for spoken poetry. Misa said, “Inspired by spoken word poetry, I wanted to create a personal piece that people in the same situation could relate to. Having experienced such thoughts myself, I wanted to let them know that they are not alone in their battle and that its okay to ask for help when things get too much to handle alone.”
The works of the other four finalists were good also. Here they are.
1. Second Place: Out of Reach by Ralph Reyes and Marie Pellejo. Watch it here.
2. Third Place: Hope in your Hands by Nia Colinayo, Jade Velasquez, Bradd Maesa, Gray Santos & Angelo Sarmiento. Nia Colinayo says “The video is intended to show how depression has become a real epidemic, and although often trivialized, a lot of lives have been lost to it. It’s as real as any illness and poses a very real threat, but as with any illness, there is always hope. We wanted something that would send that message without having to sugarcoat anything, as it is a serious issue, but we also wanted something familiar to the audience, which is why the video takes draws great inspiration from smartphone home screens. We figured that the viewers might find it relatable if the things they see in the video are similar to what they spend a lot of their time staring at— their phone screens. Hopefully, they’d get the message that hope is, quite literally, in the palm of their hand.” Watch it here.
3. Light Beyond Shadows by Rex Sueno et al. Watch it here.
4. Hope 4 by Aleks Elizabeth Dolor Isla. Watch it here.
Congratulations to all the finalists and the grand winners!
To everyone reading this, let’s continue doing our part to spread mental health awareness. If you know anyone who needs support, point them to 2919.