Stand Among Us

A Mental Health Activity Calendar.

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Stand Among Us.

In the past few years, mental health has been gaining attention from everywhere around the world. It has emerged as a paramount public health concern with a high proportion of children and adolescents affected by it. Mental health is a wide range of health conditions or disorders that affect our mood. These can range from the worries we experience daily to severe long-term conditions. It is common for people to give mental health concerns from time to time. But this becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect one's ability to function well. According to studies, the most vulnerable population is those aged 15-29, and mental health-related death has become the second leading cause of fatalities in this age group. With the current pandemic striking the entire planet, its impact on mental health adds fuel to the fire.

Though the Philippines has consistently ranked in the Top 5 of a global optimism index, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has revealed a significant increase in monthly hotline calls regarding depression, with numbers rising from 80 calls pre-lockdown to nearly 400. These numbers illustrate the need for more conversations and programs that will break the stigma around mental health. 

One of the largest tools we can use to fight against mental health problems is through human connection. Please Stand Among Us in the fight against mental health stigma. This month-long project aims to encourage people to participate in daily activities to improve one's mental health amidst the crisis. Making simple changes in our everyday life can significantly improve our mental health.

With that, there will be a total of seven (7) events that will happen in a week. These are: Siesta Sundays, Musical Mondays, Takaw Tuesdays, Walis Wednesdays, Thankful Thursdays, Freshie Fridays, and Sweaty Saturdays.

Siesta Sundays

Musical Mondays

Takaw Tuesdays

Walis Wednesdays

Thankful Thursdays

Freshie Fridays

Sweaty Saturdays

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It’s Your Turn!

After seeing the sample entries done by the moderators, now it is your turn to complete the calendar!

Feel free to follow our Mental Health Calendar and be creative with your outputs! Don’t forget to tag us in your posts!

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August 31 - [Re]learn an instrument

Whenever I go to my room, I always see my old guitar just hanging around my walls. It has been a long time since I last used it. This time, I tried to use and relearn again on how to play the guitar. Ironically and unsurprisingly, I played the first song taught to me which was the happy birthday and I still played it badly. Nevertheless, it was good to play the guitar again, and I might have to relearn it soon.

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August 30 - Watch videos that make you happy

When I have free-time or I just get bored, I go to YouTube and watch videos that the site recommends to me. Most of the time, YouTube’s algorithm is very random and they take me to very strange videos. I watch some of them and you’ll just be shocked by what you were watching eventually. Nevertheless, whenever I watch videos that interest me, it makes me happy in general.

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August 29 - Do leg workout for 10 minutes

Leg day. I have been toning my legs ever since quarantine, but due to online classes I stopped. Thanks to this calendar sched, in a way, I was able to redeem myself.

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August 28 - Sleep early

How do you sleep? Eh eh ehhh Sleeping early might sound impossible with the pile of assignments. But for me having a definite sleeping schedule and sleeping early helps me wake up the next day full of energy. I know that people who get a good night’s sleep do a better job of dealing with stress and work effectively in school. For me to get the sleep I need, I will try to go to bed at 10:30 P.M.

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August 27 - Share gratitude each day by posting a tweet, Facebook post or Pinterest.

When we feel grateful for a simple day-to-day event, it helps us find more meaning and satisfaction in life. I like to share my gratitude through posting on social media. This reminds me to be thankful of the blessings around me and it makes it easier for me to show gratitude to the people around me. In current circumstances, it is essential to show support and gratitude towards friends and family online, it helps us stay connected during hard times.

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August 26 - After waking up, tidy your bed.

Some people might not give much importance to this, but fixing my bed is essential to having a great day ahead. If I make bed in the morning, I would have accomplished the very first task of the day, and this gives a sense of pride and encourages me to do another task, and another, and another. Like what they always say, “If you cannot do the small things right, you’ll never do the big things right.”

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August 25 - Cook and spice up your comfort food.

Bon Appétit!  Sometimes when I feel sad and down, whipping up my comfort food helps me feel okay. My comfort food is Pancit Canton. Sometimes I use different variants but it still has the same effect on me. Sometimes I try to put various sauces to try to spice things up. Ikaw, anong comfort food mo?

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August 24 - Watch a musical

Musicals and Chill. Watching a musical production transports me into another world where I don’t have to worry about reality. Taking 1 to 2 hours off by watching a musical improves my mood. Singing my heart out to my favorite musical songs like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Beetlejuice lets me vent out my emotions that I couldn't express easily. It became a medium to process and evaluate my emotions.

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August 23 - Do gardening

Are you a Plantito or a plantita? During the course of this quarantine period, many individuals found themselves taking care of plants and posting it on social media. It became a coping mechanism in these trying times. I am a plantito myself, during this pandemic I already grew flowers and papayas in our garden. It helps me relieve stress and it is very rewarding to see your plants grow and bear fruit. Although due to the resumption of classes and pile of assignments, I am not able to take care of them properly and am super sad. :((

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August 22 - Do abs workout for 10 minutes

Let's get physical. Doing abs workout or working out in general boosts my self-esteem. It may be tiring but finishing that 10 minute workout makes me feel ecstatic.

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August 21 - Apply sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must whenever I go outdoors to prevent my skin from sunburns and damage. I would always apply it whether it's sunny outside or not, this is because UV rays cannot be seen by human eyes and it is present anywhere around us. Do you know that sunscreens also help prevent skin cancers, aging, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation? This is why sunscreen is a very important preventive healthcare habit that should be maintained all year.

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August 20 - Recall three things you’ve done that you are genuinely proud of.

Recall me maybe. Listing the things that I felt proud of in the past week keeps me grounded, in control and will give me more things to look forward to. Through the activity, I was able to remind myself of the fun, supportive, and kind people in my life. Validating myself boosts my self-confidence and drives me to improve myself. Before I had low self-esteem and writing moments that I have been proud of myself improved how I see myself. Try it, it wouldn't hurt to validate yourself and be proud of what you've done.

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August 19 - Clean your living room

Cleaning the living room, makes me feel at ease and helps me forget my problems for a while. It makes me feel productive and boosts my self-esteem. And after tidying up the living room, I take a breather and watch TV.

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August 18 - Try cooking! Create a meal or try a new recipe

Kain tayo, yummerz! Doing and exploring new things rev up your thinking skills. I really thought of something not common. I introduce you to tuyo creamy pasta!

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August 17 - Dance along to an upbeat song

Dancing is great for mental and emotional health. It has benefits from increasing stamina, relieving stress, and body sculpting to name a few. For me, dancing brings people together and provides us a sense of unity. I consider it an opportunity where I can express myself through creativity and movements. Dance helps me improve my self-confidence even if I am not a performer.