The Department of Health (DOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Australian Government joined forces to launch “The Wellness Movement,” an initiative aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of over 3,000 healthcare workers in the Philippines. The high stress levels experienced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout, as reported by the WHO in October 2022.
The Need for Mental Health Support
With the global pandemic putting a strain on healthcare workers, the DOH’s Wellness Movement was created to offer practical behavioral approaches to improve their well-being at work and beyond. The Mental Health Act of the country recommends integrating strategies for health promotion in the workplace, making the Wellness Movement a crucial step towards creating a positive mental health culture.
Kick-Off Event at Philippine Children’s Medical Center
The Wellness Movement was officially launched on January 16, 2023, at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), followed by virtual rollouts of community pods in 30 public and private hospitals across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These community pods serve as safe spaces for healthcare workers to practice self-care and promote wellness in their workplace.
Supporting Wellness Habits
To make it easier for healthcare workers to improve their well-being, the Wellness Movement provides them with low-cost and practical tools designed to fit their daily routine. Based on a pilot study, these tools have had a positive impact on their mental health and made it easier for them to practice self-care and wellness.
Australia’s Project BRAVE
The Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, HK Yu PSM, stated that the support for Project BRAVE (Building COVID-safe Responses And Voices for Equity) is part of Australia’s larger assistance for mental health wellness in the Philippines. The country worked with the DOH, WHO, and other UN agencies to provide sustainable solutions and practical support to health workers during the pandemic.
Supportive Workplace Culture
The Wellness Movement also includes strategies to sustain the community pods and monitor their impact on individual healthcare workers and the health facility or institution as a whole. The goal is to create a workplace culture that is supportive, responsive, and empowering to its employees.
SUMMARY
“The Wellness Movement” is an innovative effort to improve the wellness and resilience of the country’s healthcare workforce at both the individual and organizational levels. With a demanding profession like healthcare, workers are at risk of tremendous and chronic stress, making it essential to explore and implement practical and scalable ways to support their mental health. Dr Graham Harrison, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the WHO Representative to the Philippines, stated that “workplaces can be places of both opportunity and risk for mental health,” making initiatives like The Wellness Movement crucial for ensuring the well-being of healthcare workers.