Trisha Nocon, MSW, is a practicing Social Worker treating psychiatric patients in Orange County, CA. She is currently working toward her License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW), and has extensive experience working with various under-served populations.
In celebration of March being the International Women's Month, an important question must be asked. How does a woman stay healthy? Maintenance and prevention are obviously key, which involves maintaining a healthy diet and exercise plan in addition to keeping regular doctor’s check-ups. But what about maintaining good mental health? Women are two more times as likely as men to become depressed over the course of their lifetime. With all the domestic and career responsibilities that today's women, specifically Pilipinas, are expected to handle, how can we keep things balanced?
This simple question can be answered by those who have lived “a healthy life”, and I’m sure we all want to know their secret.
Older Pilipinas residing in the U.S. identified functional capacity as the number one factor for assessing wellness. Functional capacity encompasses the following:
–Independence and self-reliance over time
–Openness to new experiences
–Nurturing satisfying family and social relationships
–Being involved in physical activities (e.g., household chores or recreation)
–Practicing one’s faith (attending church services)
–Learning and adjusting to the host culture
The above-mentioned list offers just a few things to think about while we Pilipinas age. These are each very important wellness criteria for us to consider in order to avoid depression, and to keep our minds and bodies fully functional; for our families and loved ones, but most importantly, for ourselves.
Related Links:
Health and Health Care of Filipino American Elders
