MORE THAN one in every four young people in Western Visayas is struggling with moderate to high psychological distress. This disturbing finding from the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 6 should serve as a wake-up call to government, schools, families and communities. Youth mental health is no longer a concern that can be dismissed as a passing emotional problem.
According to the CPD-6 report, 27 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 experienced significant psychological distress. More alarmingly, nearly half of those who reported suicidal thoughts or previous suicide attempts were experiencing moderate to high distress. Among non-heteronormative youth, the figure reached 40 percent.
These findings came from a 2021 study, but their significance remains undeniable, especially as recent incidents of school shootings and violence have renewed public concern over the psychological well-being of young people. Such tragedies should not automatically be blamed on mental illness, since psychological distress does not necessarily lead to violence. Nevertheless, they underscore the importance of recognizing warning signs, addressing bullying and abuse, and providing timely intervention.
The troubling question is this: If the warning signs were already evident five years ago, what has government done to address them?
Unfortunately, society’s response to mental health problems has often been reactive. We express shock when tragedies occur, organize counseling sessions, conduct awareness seminars and issue statements of concern. But when public attention fades, so does the urgency. Meanwhile, countless young people continue suffering in silence.
The CPD-6 findings reveal that psychological distress is closely associated with bullying, physical abuse, family disruption and educational disadvantage. About 33 percent of young people who experienced physical abuse or cyberbullying reported elevated distress, compared with 25 percent among those who did not.
Clearly, this crisis cannot be solved by simply telling young people to be stronger or stop worrying.
Schools must have access to qualified guidance counselors and mental health professionals. Teachers should be trained to recognize warning signs, while confidential reporting systems must protect students experiencing bullying, abuse or emotional difficulties. Parents must also understand that providing material comforts does not automatically guarantee their children’s emotional well-being.
Local government units throughout Western Visayas must likewise treat youth mental health as a public health priority, supported by adequate funding, accessible counseling services, crisis intervention programs and sustained community-based initiatives.
Equally important is the need for updated regional data. The 2021 findings provide a serious warning, but policymakers must determine whether the situation has improved or deteriorated over the past five years. Without current evidence, government risks responding to today’s problems with yesterday’s information.
As World Mental Health Day approaches on October 10, the challenge is to transform awareness into concrete action. Mental health advocacy must extend beyond commemorative programs, publicity campaigns and ceremonial declarations.
A generation struggling with psychological distress cannot afford to wait for another tragedy before society takes its suffering seriously.
The greatest tragedy would not be our failure to recognize the warning signs. It would be recognizing them, discussing them and documenting them — yet doing nothing meaningful to prevent the suffering from continuing.
