The Philippines incurs an estimated loss of P68.9 billion annually due to mental health conditions, primarily driven by work absences, decreased on-the-job performance, and overall productivity declines, according to data presented at Mind You’s National Mental Health Summit in October.
The study highlighted that 77 percent of Filipino employees who underwent screening reported symptoms of depression, with nearly half, or 49.7 percent, experiencing moderate to severe levels that may necessitate professional intervention.
Mind You emphasized that these findings echo the World Health Organization’s longstanding warning to governments and employers across the ASEAN region that untreated mental health conditions lead to significant economic costs, largely due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and reduced productivity.
The data also revealed that over four percent of respondents were identified as high risk, showing signs of severe depression or suicidal ideation.
This translates to more than 6,000 individuals in the workplace silently grappling with serious mental health issues.
Fatigue emerged as a prevalent concern, with approximately 77.5 percent of respondents indicating they feel tired often or always, reinforcing concerns that chronic stress has become normalized across many organizations.
Notably, among the 15,000 employees who sought help, the most common reason was the simple need for someone to talk to, highlighting the importance of early, non-crisis support.
Mind You said the findings and expert recommendations underscore the urgent need for systemic solutions that address mental well-being at its roots.
These include making access to resources easier and ensuring data confidentiality, providing managers with training to recognize early warning signs, and strengthening collaboration between the government and the private sector to align resources, policies, and national priorities.
The data align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 and SDG 9, which focus on well-being.
Mind You is a mental health technology organization dedicated to improving access to well-being care for employees and organizations in the Philippines.
