“Hello, can you hear me?”: Narratives of online mental health counselling among Filipino adults during the pandemic

Edlene Nicole M. Dela Cruz · Rohann Cris A. Marcelo · Bea Ysabelle M. Naling · Welison Evenston G. Ty

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Digital Mental Health Interventions Mental Health Treatment and Access Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation

Abstract

Abstract Filipinos are often reluctant to seek professional mental health (MH) help. However, literature reveals that online counselling is preferable to face‐to‐face (F2F) MH services, with the pandemic possibly magnifying technology's anonymity and disinhibiting benefits. To further explore facilitators of online MH help‐seeking, this study tapped into the lived stories of Filipino adults who experienced at least one counselling session from March 2020 to March 2022. Among 83 screened respondents, 11 semistructured interviews were transcribed and analysed following Crossley's (2000) method. Findings reveal an overarching online MH counselling narrative composed of three phases and their respective events: (a) Precounselling (Resiliency Narrative versus MH Awareness, Turning Point, and Linking versus Searching); (b) Counselling (Two‐way Introduction, Unloading and Untangling, and Decision to Maintain or Terminate); and (c) Postcounselling (Relapse and Journey towards Growth and Advocacy). Three all‐encompassing facilitators were embedded throughout the process: Autonomy, Financial Capability, and MH Institutions. Notably, participants attributed their MH help‐seeking to autonomy, despite culture and stigma, because of enabling environments that entail heightened MH literacy, positive past experiences with professional MH help, social support and encouragement, and a sense of shared reality. Benefits unique to online counselling were also apparent among participants' narratives, including alleviating geographical boundaries and added financial and personal pressures. Overall, findings posit that Filipino adults consider online counselling as a preferable alternative to F2F counselling, thus necessitating further development and institutional support.

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References

2000Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.2020Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review 2020COVID-19 pandemic and mental health consequences: Systematic review of the current evidence 2020Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines 2013Maslow and the Motivation Hierarchy: Measuring Satisfaction of the Needs 2020Factors affecting perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention measures among Filipinos during Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon, Philippines: Integrating Protection Motivation Theory and extended Theory of Planned Behavior 2020Filipino help-seeking for mental health problems and associated barriers and facilitators: a systematic review 2003Narrative psychology and narrative analysis.

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