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BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY
Psychology Department Psy 308: Field Methods CONCEPT PAPER PROPOSED RESEARCH TITLE: “The Lived Experiences of Mental Health Professionals at Public Health Centers in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study” BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: Nowadays, conversations about mental health are more openly accepted and normalized than ever before. Everytime the idea of mental health is discussed, it is common to consider the perspectives and expertise of affiliated mental health professionals. Mental health professionals are defined as individuals who have undergone education and specialized training to offer mental health services in order to identify and treat mental health conditions, which includes registered psychiatrists, registered psychologists, registered psychometricians, psychiatric mental health nurses, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and registered therapists (Mayo Clinic, 2023). These mental health professionals dedicate their careers to supporting, guiding, and helping individuals manage and navigate their mental and emotional well-being. The essential role of mental health professionals in helping individuals who are battling with their mental health is very evident. However, it is also important to recognize that they, too, face challenges in their profession that put their well-being at risk. The most frequent difficulties faced by mental health professionals are mental, emotional, and financial concerns which specifically include: burnout and stress; being vulnerable to trauma resulting from empathetic client involvement; and financial risks arising from the lack of funding of the government for mental health services. These challenges, in turn, can possibly influence their ability to provide effective care and support to clients (Kar et al., 2022; Alibudbud, 2023; APA, 2024). In addition to this, some studies claim that mental health professionals in public health centers faced more difficulties and distress due to a combination of several factors. One of these is the large numbers of patients seeking care due to the high prevalence of mental disorders and poor socio-economic conditions, which places tremendous pressure on the existing public mental health centers (Docrat et al., 2019, as cited by Bezuidenhout, 2020). Another factor that contributes to their difficulties is the increased workload,
along with challenging working conditions, which in turn results in overstraining the workers (Sobekwa & Arunachallam, 2015). Additionally, public health centers have limited government funding (Bantjes et al., 2016, as cited by Bezuidenhout, 2020). These problems may serve as the reason behind the decision of most psychologists to opt for private practices for better salaries and working conditions (Bezuidenhout, 2020, as cited by Bezuidenhout, 2020). Given that a considerable portion of the related literature on the lived experiences of mental health professionals is primarily conducted in other countries, it is crucial to direct our attention towards the specific context of mental health professionals working in public health centers in the Philippine context. In line with this statement, the study conducted by Lally et al. (2019) stated that there is a lack of mental health centers in the Philippines, and the few existing mental health centers continue to face challenges, including underinvestment, a lack of mental health professionals, underdeveloped community mental health services, overcrowding, poorly functioning units, chronic staff shortages, and funding constraints, which are still considered ongoing problems, particularly in peripheral facilities. As of the latest available data on those who are working in public health centers in the Philippines, there is an estimated total of 548 psychiatrists, 516 psychiatric nurses, and 133 psychologists in the Philippines, which can all result in only 3 mental health professionals per more than 100,000 population (World Health Organization, 2020). Because of the insufficient number of mental health professionals in our country, most of them work for private services and are mainly based in urban areas, particularly in Manila, which results in a lack of mental health professionals in other work settings, including public health centers and rural areas. Moreover, the shortage of mental health professionals in the Philippines is also a significant challenge that hinders the delivery of mental health services across the country. In connection with this, the same study by Lally et al. (2019) stated that the ratio of mental health professionals per population in the Philippines is low. They mentioned that this is lower when compared to Western countries having the same economic status, such as Malaysia. Therefore, this corresponds to an extreme lack of mental health professionals in the Philippines. In recent years, there has been a growing body of literature dedicated to understanding and exploring the lived experiences of mental health professionals working in health centers. Some studies have delved into the intricacies of their roles, the challenges they face, and the coping strategies they employ while working in such systems. In some studies, they are immersed in exploring the challenges that mental health professionals might encounter. For instance, in a study by Jamil and Baseer (2023), findings showed that one of the main challenges that mental health professionals are constantly dealing
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines. The central question that arose from this purpose statement is as follows: What are the lived experiences of the mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines? To thoroughly address the central question and comprehensively explore the topic, the researchers have generated the following specific questions: (1) What are the experiences of mental health professionals working at public health centers in the Philippines? (2) What are the benefits of working as a mental health professional at a public health center in the Philippines? (3) What are the challenges encountered by mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines? (4) How do the experiences of mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines influence their overall wellbeing? (5) How do mental health professionals manage their overall wellbeing while working at a public health center in the Philippines? The findings of this study will benefit mental health professionals, students in the mental health field, and public health center administrators. Mental health professionals will potentially gain important insights from the results of this study with regards to their own experiences working in public health settings. This, in turn, can lead to the development of improved coping strategies and interventions for mental health professionals. Next, the students in the mental health field will benefit by acquiring a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by mental health professionals in public health centers. Lastly, public health center administrators will benefit from this study by utilizing the findings to develop and enhance mental health programs and interventions for the mental well-being of mental health professionals.
Research Design and Paradigm The researchers will follow a social constructivist perspective. As explained by Creswell (2013), individuals in this paradigm seek to understand the world using a subjective lens or in a manner that is based on their own experiences. The researchers will also employ a qualitative approach, specifically a phenomenological research design, which will help to explore the lived experiences of mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines. Phenomenology acknowledges the reality and truth of phenomena and highlights that individual experiences have their own meaning that could be attributed to the phenomenon under study (Ardiana, 2023). Sampling Plan and Sample Size The researchers will utilize a purposive sampling technique. This technique will enable the researchers to select respondents who exhibit specific characteristics or phenomena necessary for this study (Crossman, 2020). The researchers will look for public health centers through the use of social media platforms to contact possible participants who meet the given criteria. A total of five (5) mental health professionals, such as registered psychiatrists, registered psychologists, registered psychometricians, psychiatric mental health nurses, registered therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors in public health centers in the Philippines, will be the participants in this study. Participants The study is open to mental health professionals (licensed clinical social workers, registered psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurses, registered psychometricians, registered psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and registered therapists) currently working in a public health center in the Philippines with at least 2 years of service. On the other hand, those in private health centers or with less than 2 years of service in public health centers are not eligible for inclusion. Data Gathering Individuals who meet the selection criteria will first be briefed about the study through an informed consent form. This will include details about the study that are necessary for participants to be informed. Furthermore, a semi-structured interview guide was constructed to collect data from the participants. All interviews will be done individually and will last between 20 and 30 minutes, through online meeting platforms. The data to be collected will be kept in a password-protected file on the digital device of researchers to ensure security.
METHODS:
Interview Protocol “The Lived Experiences of Mental Health Professionals at Public Health Centers in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study” Time of Interview: Date: Place: Interviewer: Interviewee: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of mental health professionals at public health centers in the Philippines. Mental health professionals (registered psychiatrists, registered psychologists, registered psychometricians, psychiatric mental health nurses, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, and registered therapists) currently working in a public health center in the Philippines with at least 2 years of service are eligible to take part as participants in this study. To ensure confidentiality, all personal information provided during the research study will be kept strictly confidential and will only be accessible to the authorized members involved in the research process. The interview will be conducted individually and is expected to last for at least 20 to 30 minutes. You can also read the informed consent that we sent, and by signing there, you are confirming your willingness to participate and to be involved in the research process. With this, we humbly request permission to take an audio recording to accurately capture and document the details of our discussion. Questions: A. Can you tell me the following information about yourself? Name: Age: Gender: Mental Health Professional Title: Years of Working in a Public Health Center: Department:
1. Can you describe your experiences as a mental health professional working at a public health center in the Philippines? (Maaari mo bang ilarawan ang iyong mga karanasan bilang isang propesyonal sa kalusugang pangkaisipan na nagtatrabaho sa pampublikong pagamutan sa Pilipinas?) 2. Based on your experience, what are the benefits of working as a mental health professional at a public health center? (Batay sa iyong karanasan, ano ang mga benepisyo ng pagtatrabaho mo bilang isang propesyonal sa kalusugang pangkaisipan sa pagtatrabaho sa pampublikong pagamutan?) 3. Can you elaborate on any challenges you encounter in your day-to-day work as a mental health professional at a public health center? (Maari mo bang ibahagi ang mga pagsubok na iyong hinaharap sa iyong araw-araw na trabaho bilang isang propesyonal sa kalusugang pangkaisipan na nagtatrabaho sa isang pampublikong pagamutan?) 4. In what ways have your experiences working as a mental health professional at a public health center influenced your overall wellbeing? (Sa paanong paraan nakaaapekto sa iyong kabuuang kalagayan ang mga karanasan mo bilang propesyonal sa kalusugang pangkaisipan sa pagtatrabaho sa pampublikong pagamutan?) 5. As a mental health professional, how do you manage your overall wellbeing while working at a public health center? (Bilang isang propesyonal sa kalusugang pangkaisipan na nagtatrabaho sa isang pampublikong pagamutan, paano mo napananatiling maayos ang iyong kabuuang kalagayan?) We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your involvement in our research. We value your privacy very much, therefore please be assured that this will only be used for educational purposes. We would also like to inform you of the possibility of future interviews regarding this study. Again, we sincerely appreciate your contribution.
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