By Gabriela Baron
Will the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program possibly cure mental health problems? Health experts weigh in on the matter.
In a press briefing Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said mental health issues are not the same for every person.
“Ang masasabi ko lang po, it’s not going to be the same for every person,” Vergeire said.
“Iba-iba po ang capacity ng isang tao to respond and to become resilient on their own. Iba-iba rin po ang kailangan ng bawat tao para sila po ay maging mentally healthy. It’s not going to be the same for each person,” she added.
Vergeire assured that the DOH is coordinating closely with the Department of Education to address mental health issues among students.
In a series of tweets, health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon said the mandatory ROTC “at this time,” will possibly “aggravate the mental health status of our students.”
“It can cause anxiety, depression, behavior disorders, [and], might increase suicide rates due to increasing educational workload [plus] the other effects of the pandemic,” Leachon said.
Leachon said Filipino students are “psychologically and emotionally” coping with other issues, citing identity crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also urged lawmakers to “rethink and analyze” the proposed Mandatory ROTC Bill.
“With due respect to the proponents of the bill, I beg to disagree that mandatory ROTC can cure mental health problems,” he added.
In my opinion mandatory ROTC at this time will affect and possible aggravate the mental health status of our students. It can cause anxiety, depression, behavior disorders & might increase suicide rates due to increasing educational workload + the other effects of the pandemic.
— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) February 6, 2023
Meanwhile, psychologist and mental health advocate Riyan Portuguez, in a Facebook post said the claim that ROTC can be a cure for mental health problems “is unsupported.”
“In fact, it has been recognized that there is a significant barrier in help seeking efficacy among people who do military service or among ROTC students,” Portuguez added, citing a study conducted among United States (US) Army ROTC students.
The study, published by the University of Central Florida, found that 30% of members of the US Army Students who are diagnosed with mental illness do not seek treatment, citing mental health stigma as a contributor to reluctance in help-seeking.
The responses came after both Defense officer-in-charge Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Senator Bato dela Rosa both said mandatory ROTC can serve as a cure for mental health problems.
Answer to students’ mental health problems
In a Senate hearing Monday, Galvez said ROTC is “an answer” to the present mental health problems of some students.
“‘Yung survival instincts nandoon, ‘yung sinasabi natin na mental health problem, it can be cured, kasi ‘yung frustration tolerance ng tao, tataas,” Galvez said.
“Meaning, meron po siyang magagawang experience, na bakit ako naghihimutok, e ganito ‘yung nakikita natin na mas malala pa pala ‘yung ginagawa ng ibang tao,” he added.
Dela Rosa, for his part, agreed with Galvez’ view.
“Sabi nga nila, kaliit na problema ‘yan, chix lang, binreak ako ng chix ko, magpapakamatay ako? E nalusutan ko nga ‘yung training sa [Philippine Military Academy],” he added. – With a report from Daniel Manalastas-ag