Community Mental Health

Addressing mental health needs and fostering wellbeing among marginalized communities.

Depression Among Teen Cancer Patients:
Facing Hopelessness

While a diagnosis of cancer in itself already brings about tremendous emotional stress, difficulties are even greater for low-income families who are barely making ends meet in order to subsist. Hence, the accumulated stressors of dealing with cancer treatment and worrying about the impact of their disease on the family’s finances seem to cause these adolescents to think that the way out of the problem is for them to opt out of treatment or to end their life.

Other related experiences that exacerbate their situation include pulling out from school, losing contact with friends, feelings of emotional detachment and isolation, disruption of family life, and unresolved existential crisis (“Why me?”).

*Source: Loob-Kapwa-Diwa: A Community Mental Health Model Based on the Circle of Hope (COH) Program, Cherie Ann Lo, 2018

Impact of Cancer
on Parents and Families

Discussions with parents highlighted the distress they experience stemming from the fear of losing their child to cancer and the financial strain involved in seeking treatment…Often, one parent has to stop working in order to care for the sick child while undergoing treatment. This situation lessens the income capability of families.

Moreover, parental availability in caring for other siblings is stretched thin, leading to parent-child conflicts that in turn create an emotionally toxic environment.

*Source: Loob-Kapwa-Diwa: A Community Mental Health Model Based on the Circle of Hope (COH) Program, Cherie Ann Lo, 2018

“Spending 90 minutes a week with a support group shows positive effects on mood, anxiety, and pain among women with metastatic breast cancer.”

– Spiegel et. al.

Outcomes from
COH-Philippine General Hospital (PGH)

Both teen and parent groups noticed changes within themselves, as well as their relationship with their family and community. Overall, the experience with COH was described as positive by all groups.

“Makulay at masaya”
“Mahirap at makahulugan”
“Magaan ngunit malalim”

-Loob-Kapwa-Diwa: A Community Mental Health Model Based on the Circle of Hope (COH) Program, Cherie Ann Lo, 2018

Impact of COH
on Teen Patients

Having shared experiences with a group has made them feel that there are people who are going through the same challenges. They shared that the openness and non-judgmental approach of the staff during group sessions helped them share their stories to their peers. The trust that has been developed within the groups has also created a safe space for the participants to share their problems and difficulties, not only with dealing with the cancer, but more so, in managing their other relationships at home.

Impact of COH on
Patients and Parents

The parents group have shared that it is also through COH that they started to recognize that a child or teenager with cancer, is still a teenager at his or her core. Because of this, they have learned to balance between caring for them and giving them their independence.

The theme of hope was also mentioned. Through COH, both parents and teens have found meaning in their life situations, thereby giving them hope that all these challenges may be worth something in the end. It is also through COH that they found that their spirituality has been developing. Faith in God was identified as a way in which COH participants are able to connect. In difficult times, each one shows their support by praying for one another. The experience is described as “malalim” as it has evinced change in all the groups at different levels, from the self, family, and towards the community.

Services

Weekly support groups for teens and parents
Mental health screening
Individual counseling/bedside visits
Transition and grief support
Community-building and recreational activities
Monthly feeding program by the Parent Support Group
Livelihood support program for parents
Monthly mentoring program for patients who have completed treatment and are re-integrating into school and communtiy
Parent peer mentoring program

Circle of Hope is also now providing mental health services to teens living with HIV and other chronic medical conditions in partnership with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Adolescent Medicine Department.

View Our
Program Evaluation Report

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE

SELF-EFFICACY

Greater self-efficacy in utilizing knowledge and skills that foster resilience and growth

BELONGING

Stronger sense of belonging and meaningful social connections

HAPPINESS AND WHOLENESS

Increased internal and relational wellbeing

COMMUNITY

Increased hope and empowerment expressed through participation in positive community action.

How will we measure our outcomes?

Program evaluation research (i.e., multi-sectoral focus groups & surveys)

Pre and post intervention measures (i.e., level of stress, level of depression & anxiety, parenting knowledge & skills)

Participant satisfaction survey

Other Programs

BINHI: Early Childhood Program

Giving infants and young children from low-income communities a strong and healthy start in life through parenting education and skill-building.

Livelihood Program

Collective action through livelihood programs to support communities.

Project CARE

(Community Access to Resources and Education)

Support needed services and interventions for children with developmental disabilities from low-income families.