Empowering Change: How Emmanuel’s Mental Health Mission is Transforming Lives in the Philippines

Jesus Emmanuel A. D. Sevilleja, an epidemiologist at the National Center for Mental Health in the Philippines, believes in the power of mental health research. “For me, it’s about both science and humanity,” he says. His passion for this field began when he heard the stories of people with mental health challenges. He saw firsthand the stigma and discrimination they often face. This experience inspired him to focus on improving mental health care.

Emmanuel’s research emphasizes the need for data to drive policy and clinical practices. However, his perspective shifted after taking the WHO’s QualityRights in Mental Health online course. The course taught him to view mental health through the lens of human rights and recovery. “I realized that people with lived experience should have a say in their care,” he explains.

This six-module course encourages collaboration with service users and their families in designing research and shaping policies. He’s seen positive changes in his institution, with a focus on rights-based care.

Recent evaluations of the course show impressive results. A survey of over 3,000 participants revealed a 22.78% improvement in attitudes toward mental health conditions after completing the course. In low- and middle-income countries, this increase was even higher at 29.18%. This suggests that education can significantly reduce stigma and promote understanding.

Emmanuel praised the course for its practical examples that illustrate how to apply human rights in real-world situations. It’s designed for everyone, including health professionals, service users, and community members. This inclusiveness emphasizes that mental health is a shared responsibility.

With a completion rate of 54.17%, the course exceeds the 10–30% typical for online education. This high engagement indicates a growing commitment to changing the mental health landscape.

“Courses like these empower individuals to be advocates for change,” Emmanuel states. He encourages others to take this course to help transform mental health care systems into more equitable, inclusive, and rights-focused environments.

For further exploration of mental health topics, more resources can be found at WHO Academy.

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