Psychiatry in Philippines

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. A medical doctor who specializes in this branch of medicine is called a psychiatrist and they can assess both the physical and mental aspects of all psychological issues. Psychiatrists are trained and qualified to:

• Make a diagnosis and develop a management plan
• Provide urgent care for a sudden mental illness
• Provide advice about lifestyle changes
• Provide advice and second opinions to other doctors and medical professionals
• Help manage a long-term mental health problem
• Work with patients individually, or with the patient and patient’s family, partner, or carers
• Refer patients to other medical professionals
• Admit patients to hospital if required
• Prescribe medications, such as antidepressants, stimulants, and mood stabilizers
• Perform procedures.

There are numerous procedures psychiatrists can use to diagnose and treat patients, these include, but are not limited to:

• Psychometric testing, including personality tests, intelligence tests, and neuropsychological tests
• Physical and laboratory testing, including full physical exams, neurological evaluations, laboratory tests (such as blood and urine tests), and neuroimaging techniques
• Psychotherapy
• Psychosocial interventions
• Electroconvulsive therapy.

Some common reasons why someone might see a psychiatrist include:

• Problem adjusting after major life changes
• Depression that does not go away
• Anxiety, fear, or worry
• Suicidal thinking
• Hurting themselves on purpose
• Thoughts of hurting other people
• Obsessional thinking
• Constant negative thoughts
• Feeling like people want to harm them or are after them
• Feeling jumpy or on edge
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Addictive behaviors
• Memory problems
• Violence or emotional outburst
• Conditions that start in childhood, such as intellectual disability, autism, and childhood anxiety.

Examples of the mental health conditions that psychiatrists can diagnose and treat include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia.

How Long Should I Stay in Philippines?

Psychiatric treatments are typically performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you should be able to leave the clinic or hospital immediately after the procedure, and leave Philippines the day after. If hospitalization is required, the average hospital stay is around 1 to 2 weeks. Since psychiatric treatment usually requires more than one appointment, you can choose to stay in Philippines for the whole treatment plan or to make multiple trips.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery from a mental health problem depends on your specific condition and the type of treatment you underwent. However, there is usually no recovery time needed after the psychiatric treatment itself. You can go back to your normal routine immediately. It is normal to feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained after a treatment session, so you can take a day off of work after your treatment if you need to.

What Aftercare is Required?

If your psychiatrist prescribes medications, make sure to take it as directed. Your psychiatrist may also advise you on making lifestyle changes. You may need to attend regular checkups with your psychiatrist, ranging from once a week to twice a year, depending on your specific condition and its severity. 

What's the Success Rate?

Psychiatry continues to develop and advance. A better understanding of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, as well as new technology, have helped psychiatrists to become better at diagnosing, preventing, treating, and managing mental health conditions. The quality of life of people with a mental health condition who go to psychiatrists and stick to their treatment plans have been proven to improve. While there is typically no serious risks to psychiatry treatment, it does have some side effects, such as feeling overwhelmed or emotional after treatment. 

Are there Alternatives?

In some cases, you should be able to see other mental health professionals, such as clinical psychologists and mental health counselors. 

Psychiatry in and around Philippines

About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation in the heart of Southeast Asia. It extends from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. It is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’, the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It comprises three main island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital city, lies in the southwestern part of Luzon. Quezon City is the largest and most populous city in the country.

It is a prominent English-speaking country and was once a colony of Spain and the United States. It’s the most Westernised country in Asia. However, its culture is a mix of indigenous Malay culture and Spanish and American heritage.

Besides being one of the top tourist destinations, the Philippines is also an emerging medical tourism destination. It ranks in 8th position among popular medical tourism countries and more than 10,000 medical tourists visit the Philippines every year for various treatments. The following factors all contribute to the progress of medical tourism within the Philippines.

• Expert and board-certified medical professionals with international qualifications and training.
• Internationally-accredited hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment and modern facilities.
• Affordable costs compared to advanced nations
• Inexpensive accommodation
• The English language is widely-spoken making communication with the Medical team and patients easy.
• Tropical climate helps in the recovery and recuperation

The most common and popular procedures and treatments in the Philippines are cosmetic surgery, weight-loss surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. As of late, people come here even for liver and kidney transplant surgeries, and cardiac surgeries due to the cost advantage it provides.

For example, a Breast Augmentation surgery that costs between $7,500-$8,500 in the US costs only between $3,000-$3,500 in the Philippines which would be a saving of about 58% to 60%. Also, a coronary artery bypass surgery costing $70,000-$133,000 in the US, will only cost between $11,500-$17,500 and would result in a saving of almost 83% to 86%. Even after adding travel and living expenses, it still makes it a, very good value for the patient to get medical care in the Philippines and several of the more popular Hospital and Clinics are located in Manila, and are St. Luke's Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center

Popular Parts of the Philippines

The Philippines has a total land area of 116,000 square miles, with a large population of 107,791,044 million people. It has many pristine beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands, heritage towns, and monuments, With hotels, food, and transportation very affordable, it’s also a good budget tourism destination.

The following are some of the most beautiful places to visit in the Philippines:

• El Nido –is known for its white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs and is the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago which is a group of islands. The laid-back town of El Nido is a base for island-hopping tours, and kayaking trips to mountainous Cadlao Island, El Nido is situated on the northern edge of mainland Palawan.
• Coron – Is also situated in Palawan and is known for its warm waters, ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and deep diving. The breathtaking Kayangan Lake, surrounded by karst walls is a visual treat. It is the cleanest lake in the Philippines.
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park –is also part of Palawan and is situated to the southeast, in the Sulu Sea. It’s home to countless coral reefs, and expansive breeds of fish, dolphins, sharks, and whales and It is a great water destination for divers.
• Banaue Rice Terraces – They lie within the mountainous region of the Cordilleras. The rice terraces are about 2,000 years old, a result of the labor of the predecessors of the region and They provide efficient space for people to farm on.
• Intramuros – The walled historical area of Manila contains the remains of a bygone era with its cobblestone streets and preserved remnants. Walking tours and carromata rides (two-wheeled box-like vehicles drawn by a single native pony) are popular here.
• Mount Mayon –is a 2,500-meter-tall active volcano. It’s famed for its perfect symmetry and accurate conical shape. You can enjoy the view from some distance or experience it at close quarters, by hiking for a couple of days.
• Hinatuan Enchanted River – Locals believe the river has mystical qualities. They feel fairies and Engkanto (other nature spirits) guard the enchanting blue-green river. The unknown source of clear saltwater is another mystery surrounding the river.

Boracay and Siargao are other popular tourist spots with their powdery white sand and water activities.

Weather and Climate in the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate. The general weather is hot and very humid. It experiences only three seasons:

1. Summer Season – A very hot and dry summer season is between March and May.
2. Wet Season – Rainy Season is between June and November when the southwest monsoon is most active. In this period, typhoons are common, especially during September and October.
3. Dry Season – There is a cool and dry season between December and February, due to the cold winds brought in by the northeastern monsoon.

The average temperature of the Philippines ranges between 25°C and 32°C (78-90°F) with humidity of about 77%. High-altitude areas are much cooler, with night temperatures dropping to 20°C (68°F). The average annual temperature is around 26.6°C (79.9°F)

Getting Around in the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation, most international travelers reach the country by air. The country has many international airports in various cities including Cebu, Davao, Manila, Kalibo, and Angeles.

Many airlines operate flights in and out of Manila to several destinations. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia are the national carriers of the Philippines. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and many Middle Eastern airlines operate direct flights to Manila. The Southeast Asian cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City have wide connectivity to Manila and Cebu. You can reach Manila directly from London by flying Philippine Airlines. US travelers can fly via Japan to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Philippines, and PAL Express are some low-cost carriers that service domestic destinations in the country.

For transport within the Philippines, you have Jeepneys which are WWII- army jeeps converted into transport jeeps. They are cheap, open, and usually fully loaded with passengers which are normally cramped with 14 to 20 people sitting shoulder to shoulder depending on the length of the vehicle They operate as collective taxis, picking up and dropping passengers within cities.

Tourist Visas in the Philippines

Travelers from more than 150 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines can enter the country without a tourist visa. EU, Australia, Japan, and the US are a few visa-exempt countries. In general, you can stay for up to 30 days, provided your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival. Showing proof of onward and return journeys is compulsory.

Citizens of India, China, and Egypt are some of the countries that will need to get a visa in advance to enter the Philippines.

Additional Information

• Philippine Peso or Piso (PHP) is the official currency of the Philippines. Its subdivision is 100 centavos or centimos for a Peso. The current exchange rate for one US dollar is 51.99 PHP. You will be able to use US Dollars in Metro Manila and possibly in Cebu City. In other areas, it’s better to have pesos for exchange.
• You will find all major banks and plenty of ATMs everywhere. Master and Visa cards are accepted in most businesses.
• Tagalog or Filipino language is the main spoken language. English is also spoken and understood in the Philippines, due to the US influence during its colonization.
• Roman Catholicism is the major religion of the Philippines. 91% of the population are Christians and about 5.5% comprises of Islam religion.
• New Year’s Day, Araw ng Kagitingan, Independence Day, National Hero’s Day, Bonifacio Day, and Christmas are some of the important holidays in the Philippines.