Philippine E-Journals

Conceptualization of Mental Health among Filipino Mothers in Post-disaster Grassroot Communities

Nephtaly Joel B. Botor | Maria Ninez Brozula

 

Abstract:

In the Philippines, where mental health models are primarily derived from the West, it is important to examine local ideas about mental health. In the present study, we investigated the conceptualization of mental health among 55 mothers from post-Haiyan communities in the Southern Tagalog region of the Philippines. We explored descriptors and factors of mental health, and coping. We found that mothers described mentally (un)healthy persons in the following aspects: intelligence, thinking, social cognition, affect, physical health, and personal resources. Mothers also identified factors influencing mental health which were within six categories: psychological, health and lifestyle, material, social, spiritual, and environmental. Furthermore, mothers reported coping with problems by support seeking, solution seeking, and strength seeking, while some reported experience of non-coping. With these findings, we ultimately brought forward insights and implications for research and intervention.