The Philippines鈥 very first mobile application geared towards providing mental health support and self-care reminders had its soft launch on Friday, with a wider launch through Google听and Apple stores to be available soon.听听听
Developed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)听through its RenewHealth project, and听in听collaboration with听the Department of Health (DoH),听the app听Lusog-Isip听was conceived to address听Filipinos鈥櫶齧ental struggles听during听the听COVID-19听pandemic,听including听substance abuse听problems,听according to the听two agencies.听听
鈥淲e need to empower people with the information and tools to keep themselves and their families and their communities mentally healthy, and,听as its name says, that鈥檚 what听Lusog-Isip aims to do,鈥澨齭aid USAID Philippines鈥 Office of Health director Michelle Lang-Alli, at the app鈥檚 virtual soft launch.听鈥淟usog-Isip鈥 translates to 鈥渕ental health.鈥澨听
The app provides access to听exercises,听audio guides, journaling, and mood-tracking, which aim听to help users cope with their struggles and mentally improve over time. It also has a referral network of听psychosocial service providers nationwide,听for those who want to take听it听a step further and seek听professional听help.听
In May, the听DoH听said that the pandemic saw 3.6 million Filipinos battling mental health issues. Of these, 1.14 million have depression, 847,000 struggle with alcohol use, and 520,000 suffer from bipolar disorder.听听
USAID鈥檚 initiative RenewHealth, which handles the development of the app,听is a听five-year project that focuses on helping听Filipinos听who are trying to听reduce or prevent drug dependence via self-help or community-based rehabilitation.听听听
鈥淲e understand very well that substance abuse is part of the broader concern of mental health,鈥 Ms. Lang-Alli听explained.听听
A pilot test of the app听in September was aimed towards these individuals, and it turned听out to be successful, according to Patrick L. Angeles of RenewHealth.听The test was carried out in groups where the effectivity of听DoH鈥檚听mental health toolkit or workbook was also measured, to gauge the difference between the two.听听
The majority (85.9%) of听the 206听respondents said that听the听app听was 鈥渟atisfactory,鈥 with听both the toolkit and the app able to improve well-being. However,听Lusog-Isip鈥檚 advantage was that it was also an avenue for emotional release.听听
鈥淧articipants said听that the journaling feature improved their awareness of stressors and became an avenue for them to vent,鈥澨齭hared Mr. Angeles.听听
Beverly Lorraine C. Ho,听director of听the听DoH鈥檚听Disease Prevention and Control Bureau,听added that听Lusog-Isip is adapted to the Philippine cultural context, where mental health and substance use have听only begun to be talked about widely.听听
鈥淢ental health is health and we must continue to take care of ourselves and each other during this pandemic,鈥 she said, reiterating that the National Center for Mental Health hotline 1553 is always available for those who require a mental health professional. 鈥 Bronte H. Lacsamana
