Closing the Mental Health Care Gap in the Philippines

Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation's telehealth platform mWell has partnered with global mental health organization MindNation to widen access to certified mental health specialists for Filipino users. The collaboration comes as mental health stigma continues to shape how Filipinos approach care. Cultural values such as hiya and pakikisama, which emphasize avoiding embarrassment and maintaining social harmony, often discourage people from openly discussing mental health struggles. According to the International Labor Organization, around 75% of Filipinos believe disclosing mental health issues could hurt their career prospects, the highest figure among ASEAN countries surveyed. Cost has also been a longstanding barrier to professional support.