Capturing Energy: Reflections from the 4th GMH Advocacy Forum
by Hannah Morillo
Executive Director, MLAC Institute for Psychosocial Services
How does one metabolise the learnings gained from a gathering like no other?
I have been attending psychology conferences since 2011 and I have not really been in a room like this. With almost 400 onsite participants from 70+ countries and 2,200 online registrants from 130+ countries, the 4th Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum was the physical space to simply connect and be yourself.
I loved observing how organic it was for people to excitedly meet for the first time, partner for collaborations, feel impassioned about advocacies, and intently savour the messages of the plenary sessions. There were endless enriching discussions on local and global initiatives and cross-cultural experiences of mental wellbeing and ill-health. Distinct to the Forum was the tangible shifting power dynamics in language, funding, and historically minoritised voices. Participants owned - and celebrated - their narratives.
Highlights professional and personal
Some highlights were quite personal as they were professional. I was moved to tears when the Ati indigenous group was acknowledged by Emma Rawson Te-Patu. I could not wait to tell my Boracay Ati friends of such significant recognition. We all needed to be reminded of how Emma lives her advocacy: walking with integrity and authenticity. The workshops invited us to discuss more deeply across diverse experiences and backgrounds. I attended advancing deinstitutionalisation, which felt intimate and revolutionary at the same time. Our sharing echoed one message: that whatever strategy we would all forge on, community mental healthcare needs to have a singular focus on the person (their right, dignity, autonomy).
There were plenaries where youth advocates led conversations on the seismic shifts they do in local/global movements. The Philippine mental healthcare and policy journey also took centre stage. Indeed, a proud moment for the speakers to share this to the world. Even plenary talks about funding were different from typical strategic talks. Kevin L Brown and GMHAN speakers encouraged us, grassroots organizations, not to get bewildered in chasing the funding, but rather recognise and build on our assets. Actually becoming “findable” was affirming to hear especially for a local nonprofit doing its best.
Finally, one of the many powerful moments was during the “Reimagining Global Mental Health through LGBTQI+ Lenses” plenary where there was a show of strength and solidarity within the community as the sharers trusted the space to embrace the vulnerabilities and truth that empower their advocacy.
“No voice left behind” was the call to reimagine global mental health, and it was palpable how participants embodied their mental health advocacy as we engaged into heartfelt sharing, both personal and professional. The Forum was collegial, affirming, and action-oriented.
On a personal note, it was a gift to let my 12-year-old daughter, an equally strong mental health advocate in her own right, witness all this. Moreover, I was also all too grateful for a mini reunion with my MSc Global Mental Health (GMH) cohort picking up from where we left off in 2020, as well as meeting fellow GMH alumni. It was surreal and great fun to meet in person the wonderful email-/webinar-pals I have encountered online.
Our islands taking centre stage
As a partner of GMHAN, I was proud to represent MLAC Institute along with colleagues Tess Aguilar and Vea Vallesteros. It was rewarding to lead mindfulness activities inspired by our Ilonggo service users, letting international participants experience Filipino ways of incorporating nature, spirituality, physical activity, and each other into greater awareness of oneself. We also had a booth inside the Showcase Space. Again, taking inspiration from the culturally responsive interventions we do at scale to traumatised and marginalised communities, we let visitors get a mini experience of some of the play, mindfulness-based, and expressive arts modalities. It was gratifying to host people’s breaks and answer, “kamusta ka? (how are you?)” through the arts. I thoroughly enjoyed having the ICON food staff delighting in creating clay figures and WHO Philippines Mental health Technical Officer Dr Jasmine Vergara writing how she was feeling at that moment. This Forum was an incredible meeting place, linking and uniting us with co-advocates from around the world who were drawn by the words, “mindfulness”, “compassion”, and “love”.
I am deeply grateful to the GMHAN team led by Dr Antonis Kousoulis with Divya Sharma, United for Global Mental Health through the leadership of Sarah Kline, and proud of the local partner #MentalHealthPH, as well as fellow Filipino organisations and delegates who showcased Filipino kapwa (self in other) core value through hospitality and palangga (love). Lastly, I am incredibly proud that over 2000 people learned more about the island I call home. Palangga ta gid ka Iloilo/Pilipinas, ginapabugal ta gid ka. [So much love for you Iloilo/Philippines, I am beyond proud of you (for hosting this gathering).]
A closing word
So how does one process such a meaningful meeting of minds and hearts? Maybe we have to live it each day as it comes. Let the unmistakable energy we felt with the global collective continue to spark and catalyse our work.
With a full heart, I bow in reverence to all the action I witnessed, heard, was shared, discussed in our advocacy work.