Mind You Launches Free, Gamified Mental Health Consultations Through “House of Healers”
Health-ed start-up Mind You MHS
(Mental Health Systems) has officially launched the “House of Healers,” an
online platform designed to help address mental health challenges faced by
young Filipinos. By utilizing inherent features in video games, the platform
aims to create a safe space for conversations. Playing as famous “Healer”
characters, Mind You’s team of licensed psychologists will be present in some
of the most popular mobile and computer games to offer real-life healing in the form of free mental health education and
consultation sessions to anyone who seeks it.
Currently on its soft launch,
House of Healers sessions are scheduled every weekend running throughout March
and April. Offering easy access to join, sign-up sheets will be released weekly
on the official Facebook
and Instagram pages of Mind You MHS. There, gamers get to
explore the “games” the Healers will be in and have access to book a free
one-on-one in-game meet-up. To be able to tailor the program to meet the needs,
a Mind You representative will then reach out with further details when the
session is confirmed.
“We have built Mind You up to be
able to offer accessible and affordable mental healthcare and support for
communities and individuals alike. With House of Healers, this is an exciting
new avenue for us to be able to extend much-needed support to the gaming
industry, in a language that can resonate more,” mentions Yuri Marshall, Chief
Executive Officer, Mind You MHS.
Recent reports from the
Department of Health suggest that at least 3.6 million Filipinos are struggling
with mental health issues. Data from the National Statistics Office also ranked
mental health illness as the third most common form of suffering among
Filipinos. However, the limited number of psychiatrists in the country and the
typically high fees of professional mental health care haven’t made it easy or
cost-effective to access help. The problem is further exacerbated by the
enduring stigma surrounding mental health, especially from older generations
who either lack the understanding or resources to learn. The culmination of
this leads to no surprise as to why seeking professional help becomes less and
less of a priority for the present-day Filipino.
“The Philippines is currently
facing a mental health crisis, especially among the youth who are feeling lost,
disconnected, or misunderstood—while a lot clearly still needs to be done, we
are seeing this as an opportunity to explore new and creative avenues to reach
those in need,” noted Marshall.
Offering an enticing new step towards a healing mental health journey
House of Healers was born from
decades of research that have proven the positive impact video games can have
on one’s mental health and the idea that it can be used to address the mental
health issues prevailing among members of the gaming community. Ultimately, the
in-game interactions are meant to serve as the proverbial first step into the
mental health journey. Starting with education and consultation, participants
can continue on with a slew of services and resources for them to learn, feel
empowered, or just be heard.
House of Healers is complemented
by a series of Mind You educational livestreams led by Senior Psychologist Rea
Celine Villa MAP, LPT, RPsy. In each episode, she is joined by a panel to
discuss the mental health situation in the Philippines as it relates to gaming.
You can already view their first episode entitled “Power of Community in Gaming” where she talks about the value that having
a solid social support system adds to your mental health and how it can be
fostered in many gaming communities. Episodes are broadcasted live on Mind
You’s official Facebook, Kumu, and Uplive pages (@mindyoumhs).
Compliant with the Data Privacy
Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the
online meetups are designed as educational sessions for interested participants
to chat with professionally trained mental health professionals about mental
health and learn more about it. At no point will any diagnosis, medication, or
intervention be issued unless someone is deemed to be “at-risk”.
Marshall further elaborated,
“Mind You understands that gaming is one the more effective channels to reach
young Filipinos today. With House of Healers, we aim to leverage the growing
popularity and influence of video games to help break the stigma of mental
health and encourage others to seek help before it is too late. Together with
our partners, we have systems in place to ensure that those in the game feel
safe and that their privacy is protected at all times. Overall, we are
committed to helping increase the accessibility to better mental health care in
the Philippines.”
Register now for a free mental health consultation
The next House of Healers session
is scheduled on March 25 and 26 (Saturday and Sunday), from 3pm to 5pm. Registration is now open. Hurry because slots are limited!
Interested in partnering with Mind You to help spread
awareness about mental health? Send an email to partnerships@mindyou.com.ph to
learn more about the House of Healers program.
Follow Mind You MHS on Facebook
or Instagram to stay updated on the latest schedule.
Download the Mind You app today for free on the App
Store and Google Play.
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