There are over 119 million people in the Philippines — but not enough mental health professionals. 

According to the Philippine Psychiatric Association, there are only 651 psychiatrists, 516 psychiatric nurses, and 133 psychologists nationwide. 

The stark reality in their homeland is a cause of concern for Filipino-American mental health professionals.   

Dr. Rhigel Tan of ICarePsychiatry in Las Vegas called the figures nothing short of alarming.

“There's only two psychiatrists in every 100,000 Filipinos and the WHO requires 10 every 1,000," said Tan, who is also an associate professor at the UNLV College of Nursing, 

"That's very concerning. Our younger population are going through a lot and no one is taking care of them why? Because we have limited psychiatrists and other practitioners in mental health.”

Tan said psychiatric nurses in the U.S. can help improve mental health awareness and services in the Philippines through collaboration.

“That is a very important aspect," he said. "Our willingness to reach out especially in mental health and psychiatry here in the U.S. can draw collaboration both in clinical practice in education and in research that collaboration."

Tan proposed that U.S. nurse practitioners be allowed to practice in the Philippines through a reciprocity policy. 

"We as nurse practitioners [in] mental health psychiatry in the U.S. can influence our legislators, our government agencies [on] how the knowledge that we acquire here can be given back in the community in the Philippines," he said.

"Why not allow us to practice there? In that way, we stop the notion of brain drain and make it brain gain.”

The medical doctor further observed that mental health remains taboo in Filipino culture.

“Mental health in the Philippines is always stigmatized," he said, "and it's stigmatized from different layers of society even from the very core of the family. It goes to different family private and workplaces and it creates shame among Filipinos.”

Tan hopes that the Philippine government will make good on its promise to prioritize mental health and wellness and to ensure that mental health services are accessible to all Filipinos.

No one is exempted from mental health issues: DOH-Metro Manila

Mental health services should be available at work: DOH unit