On 22 February 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) approved the conduct of the National Survey on Mental Health and Well-Being (NSMHW) of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, in partnership with the University of the Philippines – Manila, which will undertake the field operations.

The results of the NSMWH will be used to estimate the national and regional lifetime and 12-month prevalence of selected mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders among Filipinos. Further, the survey will determine the impacts of these conditions as well as the health services utilization among those with MNS disorders.

The data items to be collected in the survey include the following:

• National and regional lifetime and 12-month prevalence of the MNS disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and substance abuse and neurological disorders
• Household characteristics and respondent’s socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, urban/rural residence, marital status, ethnicity, educational attainment, employment status, living arrangements, migrant status in place of residence)
• Level of exercise, nutritional status, smoking, alcohol consumption, misuse of medications and comorbidity
• Respondents’ concentration, emotional and social difficulties, and disability status
• Respondents’ health service utilization

The survey will be divided into two (2) phases. Phase 1 will cover nine (9) out of 17 regions, namely: NCR, Regions I, III, IVA, V, VI, VII, IX and XI, while Phase 2 will cover the remaining regions. The data will be collected from 7,395 households and 22,185 individuals nationwide from March to June 2019 for Phase 1 and from August to November 2019 for Phase 2.

A total budget amounting to PhP 49.3 million will be utilized to cover personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) such as travelling expenses, supplies and printing of materials.

Results of the survey for Phases 1 and 2 are expected to be released in July 2019 and in January 2020, respectively.

The PSA clearance for the conduct of NSMHW is pursuant to the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection;
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
• effect economy in statistical data collection;
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins the public to support the said survey. Meanwhile, the PSA would like to inform the general public that the PSA is only mandated to review and clear the survey materials through the SSRCS. In the event that the survey proponent hires a third-party entity to undertake the survey on their behalf, kindly note that the PSA does not have control over the agreement between the survey proponent and the third-party entity.

For further information on SSRCS (https://psa.gov.ph/ssrcs), please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers (02) 376-1928 and (02) 376-1931, and email address: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.