Identifying mental health support systems and the factors that influence the support system preference of senior high school students in Western Visayas

• Main Authors: Dimaano, Antoniette Lorain, Gomez, Cherisse Hope, Ortega, Maria Theresa, Templonuevo, Cherry Dale, Wong, Therese Anne, Pantaleon, Ma. Asuncion Clara F.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Social networks; High school students —Mental health—Philippines—Visayan Islands; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11643
• Institution: De La Salle University

In the Philippines, around 10-15% of children have mental health problems. Previous studies showed how support systems have influenced the mental health of adolescents. Family relationships are enduring and have been seen to play a key role in shaping the well-being of an individual. Given this, the present study aimed to determine whether or not the family is still the main support system of adolescents. Perceived factors that affected their choice of support system was also identified. The study followed a cross-sectional design using descriptive-survey methods in data collection. The survey was distributed using an electronic web-based questionnaire through a Google survey tool. The sample size consisted of 105 senior high school students from selected schools namely University of San Agustin, Colegio de San Jose, Wadeford School, Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus, and other schools using purposive sampling. Results showed that family was still the preferred support system of adolescents. The top three factors that affected their choice was the good relationship they shared with the support system, trustworthiness, and open-mindedness. Keywords: adolescent, mental health, support systems 3