TikTok is raising mental health awareness

Are you okay? What have you been doing lately? What's stressing you up? 

Mental health remains one of the most neglected areas of public health globally. According to the World Health Organization^[1], close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder yet countries on average spend a mere 2% of their health budgets on mental health, leaving many without access to quality mental health services. In  the Philippines, the Department of Health urges the public to access free mental health e-learning course. 

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, and provides an opportunity for the world to come together to address the challenges around mental health. This year, World Health Organization (WHO), the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and United for Global Mental Health (UnitedGMH) have joined forces to spark conversations on how the global community can work together through the Move for mental health: let’s invest campaign. The campaign highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications, including social distancing measures and economic downturns are fuelling fear and anxiety that have further impacted people’s mental health. 

Another implication is the surge in the number of hours people spend online for work, entertainment and staying updated while remaining at home. The excessive time spent online has led to a new set of challenges, such as screen-time addiction and cyber bullying that have made it more important than ever to ensure a positive and balanced online environment. Along with the government and individuals, digital platforms play a big part to help users forge mental and digital resilience.

How digital platforms can be harnessed to promote mental health

 

From sharing mental health tips to personal struggles, digital platforms can play a critical role in raising awareness and educating users about mental health. TikTok for instance, launched the #thinkb4youdo challenge to encourage users in the Philippines and across the world to take a moment and consider, before partaking in negative behaviour or even dangerous acts online - from cyber bullying to self-harm. Such campaigns are becoming a call to action for the online community to play their part in creating a safe and positive environment for everyone.

 

 

                    https://www.tiktok.com/@kilimanguru/video/6870780070089231617

 

With the time we spend online today, more people are becoming aware that maintaining digital wellness is important and they are leveraging digital platforms to raise such awareness. Case in point, medical intern and TikTok creator Kilimanguru addresses mental health in one of his videos captioning: “Mental health matters. STOP THE STIGMA.”

However, digital platforms have a role that goes beyond just facilitating content sharing. There is also a need to ensure that a safe place is created on the platform for people to discover, create and connect. TikTok has rolled outmore robust features over the years, such as Screen Time Management and Restricted Mode, and users are empowered to take more control over how much time they want to spend on TikTok and limit the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for them. 

Make a personal commitment for a better mental health

Bringing up mental health challenges is a unique journey for everyone, but people should feel empowered to lead by example and share their battles with others to encourage them to get help. With digital platforms, we have actually seen a rise in people sharing their stories as a way to empower others. Each of us are responsible for our own mental wellbeing and there are practical ways that we as individuals can take to look after our mental health in the digital age, including:

●      Reduce time online - We can take a proactive approach to limit the time we spend online by turning off our digital devices at certain times of the day such as when you are sleeping or spending time with our loved ones. We can also disable unnecessary notifications as often it is hard to resist looking at the constant buzzing of new messages even when we are about to go to sleep. There are various measures in place today that help us to control how much time we spend online and we should be making use of these measures actively.

 

●      Change your focus - Many of us turn to devices like our phone purely as a force of habit to mindlessly kill time. But are you escaping into the digital world as a substitute for real life? Turning to apps like social media and forums may be easy and convenient, but there are often healthier, more effective ways to pass time. If you are feeling bored, consider exercising or taking up a new hobby. The takeaway is striking a balance between online and offline interactions and recognising that we do not have to be glued to our screens 24/7.

●      Take time for reflection away from the screen - It is very important to have introspective time away from our digital devices and practicing mindfulness. Try journaling or meditating. Keep track of all the great memories and positives — and practice gratitude for all the people and things you have in your life. 

 

While the above is by no means an exhaustive list, the key here is to make a commitment to prioritize our mental health. It is about taking the first step to understand what we can do as individuals and to act on it so that it is not just something that we talk about. 

It takes a community to address mental health

 

Raising mental health awareness and eradicating stigma around the topic requires a whole-of-society approach. While each one of us can take concrete actions in maintaining our own mental health, we can also play a role in supporting friends and family who are struggling. Employers for example can take active steps to create employee wellness programs that can help to build a nurturing environment for their organizations. 

 

Governments are increasingly committing to improving mental health services and making them accessible for all. They can also collaborate more closely with the private sectors and communities to understand the current needs and build relevant solutions to address current gaps. The private and public sectors will need to collaborate more closely than ever before to raise awareness on this crucial issue. Public-private partnerships and programs can help support efforts to raise awareness about mental health. 

 

This digital day and age has certainly brought about many new challenges, and it is absolutely crucial that digital platforms do their part to help users forge mental and digital resilience. However, the responsibility of promoting mental health does not fall on one person, party or organization. It requires a united approach and everyone can do their part to improve mental health and help others suffering from mental illnesses to expunge the stigma of mental health.

 ^[1]https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/27-08-2020-world-mental-health-day-an-opportunity-to-kick-start-a-massive-scale-up-in-investment-in-mental-health

Olay partners with Shopee, one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, to launch Adult Fearlessly campaign

 Empowering women with the confidence to navigate adulthood, P&G-owned skincare brand Olay partners with Shopee, one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, to launch Adult Fearlessly campaign. The campaign seeks to reach and engage with digital natives in Southeast Asia, empowering millennial women to #adultfearlessly and overcome the perceived challenges of 'adulting' and invest in quality products catered to their skincare needs. The refreshed brand campaign will be held exclusively on Shopee and rolled out in phases across six markets including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

This second collaboration between Olay and Shopee builds on the previous success of Olay's regional campaign which launched the Retinol 24 product line last April. The campaign surpassed targets by almost double due to Olay and Shopee's hyper localised marketing strategy, enabling them to reach the right audiences. Adult Fearlessly aims to ramp up Olay's growth momentum on e-commerce with a digital-led campaign leveraging Shopee's marketing tools and core engagement features, such as Shopee Live stream and Shopee Games.

Shankar Viswanathan, Senior Vice President - P&G Market Operations - Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and E-Commerce - Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa with Ian Ho, Shopee Regional Managing Director 

A study on over 16,000 consumers across Asia-Pacific revealed that 58% of millennial consumers are more influenced by online brand videos when choosing brands, including decisions about beauty and skincare needs[1]. As such, Olay teamed up with Shopee to conceptualise and co-create content, such as the campaign hero video, "Fearless with your choices", to capture the attention of millennial female consumers.

 

"We want to focus on how our consumers are integrating their lifestyle with their skin needs," said Lucy Moran, Olay and Personal Care Senior eCommerce Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

 

"As one of the top facial skincare brands in the world, we are continually innovating and advancing the way we connect with our consumers. With e-commerce driving a major shift from offline to online sales, there is potential to achieve further growth in this segment. Riding on this momentum to broaden our reach in Southeast Asia, we are partnering with Shopee once again to bring more engaging  and convenient experiences online, where consumers are able to access Olay products– all at the click of a button," she adds.

 

Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director of Shopee said, "The Health & Beauty category is one of the top-performing on Shopee, and the new normal has driven even more consumers to browse and buy skincare products online. We are proud to be able to support Olay in their e-commerce growth through this campaign. Our shared consumer insights and widening base of millennial users have enabled a hyperlocal strategy for Olay to deliver the best online shopping experience. We are confident in supporting Olay to achieve another successful campaign with us."

 

The Adult Fearlessly campaign is brought to life in the "Fearless with your choices" video, which strives to shift the mindsets of millennials as they confront their fears of turning 30. Olay seeks to inspire women by highlighting the positive aspects of this journey. With personal and financial independence that comes with age, women can make choices fearlessly, and invest in skincare products that are of good quality and value to make 'adulting' easier. 

 

Watch the video here.

 

The Olay Super Brand Day will run from Oct 18-20. Find out more about the Olay Adult Fearlessly Campaign here

 

Enjoy up to 42% OFF on realme devices via Shopee 10.10 Brands Festival Sale!

Online shoppers can expect to bag huge discounts of up to 42 percent from the Philippines’s top 2 smartphone brand realme at the Shopee 10.10 Brand Festival Sale on October 10. realme Philippines is discounting the price of select smartphones and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) devices.

The monthly repdigit sale event is a much-awaited online shopping date as big brands nationwide offer various promos, from discount vouchers and in-app games to the beloved free shipping promo. 

With the school year officially commencing, realme Philippines is offering promos on devices that can aid students in acing their virtual classes and offline modules. Parents and students looking for tech partners for schooling can score up to 42 percent off on select realme AIoT devices and as much as 12 percent off on premium realme smartphones.

Make learning more fun

E-learners can now get a chance to enjoy online-schooling with the help of capable realme devices. Starting at 12 midnight on October 10, realme devices will be having slashed-off prices in successive Flash Sale periods.  

For those in search of smartphones with durable and massive battery power, the quad-camera king realme 5i can be availed for only Php 6,490.00, while the triple-camera all-around smartphone, realme C12, will be retailed for only Php 5,490.00, giving purchasers a Php 500 off on both superb devices.

On the other hand, aspiring content creators can get a chance to level-up their game with the realme 6 Pro priced at only Php 14,990.00 — a staggering Php 2000 discount.

Home-school must haves

To get the all-in-one smooth e-learning experience, students can top off their devices with exclusive realme AIoT accessories. The realme Buds Neo, whose price will be discounted by more than Php 500, is perfect for digital learning with its low-latency feature and strong battery capability. The realme Buds Neo can be availed for only Php 1,449.00. On the other hand, to equip devices with the juice they need to stay powered throughout the day, the realme Powerbank 2 will be offered with a 42 percent discount, bringing the price to only Php 690.00.

“realme Philippines provides cutting-edge technology that can enable the youth to pursue excellence in their fields of interest. By making our products available in channels like Shopee, we get to reach more young Filipinos who dream big. Enjoy the promos we have in store for you at the Shopee 10.10 Brand Festival,” shares VP for Marketing Austine Huang. 

Purchasers can also enjoy amazing deals and discounts at Lazada 10.10’s Brand Mega Offer and Flash Sales. Score as much as Php 500 off on select realme smartphones and accessories. 

For more announcements on the much-anticipated sale, stay tuned in the official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagramaccount of realme Philippines. 

Continue to enjoy FREE InstaPay and PESONet transactions with PSBank with its waive fees extended!

Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), the consumer banking arm of the Metrobank Group, continues to extend waiving of fees for PesoNet and InstaPay transactions made via the PSBank Mobile App. 

Effective until further notice, the extension aims to further encourage accountholders to maximize the use of digital payments in the new normal.

For more information, call our 24/7 Customer Experience Hotline at (632) 8845-8888, visit https://www.psbank.com.ph or https://www.facebook.com/psbankofficial/.  

 

Amway Philippines partners with Department of Education (DepEd) for the EaseKul launch

Amway Philippines, together with long-time CSR partner Department of Education (DepEd), has donated used laptops to public schools to enable continuous learning amid the pandemic. The partners are also launching EaseKul (pronounced as “iskul”) – a project that will provide trainings on health, beauty, and agriculture to help augment the incomes of displaced parents and teachers in these trying times.

 

As classes resume and shift to digital platforms in the middle of a health pandemic, the direct selling company and DepEd started the Oplan Balik-Skwela project: kicking off with a donation of laptops to 10 public schools last August 17, 2020. During the turnover, several school representatives received the laptops, remarking on how the donation will be of much help. “Simula po nung dumating ako sa school, wala pa rin silang laptop,” Roger Malawit, Principal of Magumbali Elementary School North District in Pampanga, gratefully expressed. (Ever since I started teaching in the school, they had no laptops.) Aside from Pampanga, other areas selected for the donation include Malolos, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, and Mandaluyong.

 

“Meanwhile, EaseKul is part of DepEd’s Learning Continuity Program (LCP) and hopes to extend learning opportunities to stay-at-home moms and dads and displaced teachers so they can gain new skills to help augment their income,” says Leni Olmedo, Country Manager of Amway Philippines. “We’ve always offered trainings on agri-farming, livelihood, beauty, and health and wellness among our direct sellers or Amway Business Owners (ABOs) to help build their skill sets. Now, we are extending those training modules to others, but we have modified them to better fit our new audience.”

 

Donation turnover in Amway’s office attended by DepEd officials Usec. Tonisito Umali, Esq., Partnership Director Edel Carag, and Partnership Officer Carol Labrague, and Amway representatives: Country Manager Leni Olmedo, CSR Lead Owen Rea, NCR Volunteer Team Leader Michael Padre, HR Manager JM Federico, Sales Manager Edmund Guinto, and Marketing Manager Christine Valmonte

 

DepEd’s LCP includes webinars that are held via Facebook Live. While most of these are on disaster risk management, adjusting to the new normal, and addressing psychological needs, EaseKul is changing the game by offering skills-based trainings that parents and teachers alike can use in their daily lives and to find additional sources of revenue especially during this crisis.

 

“Maski ganito na ang ating sitwasyon, kami ay nananalig na magagawa parin namin [i-angat ang kalidad ng edukasyon para sa lahat] sa tamang pakikipagugnayan sa aming mga partners katulad ng Amway Philippines,” Usec. Tonisito M.C. Umali Esq., Undersecretary for External Partnerships, stated during the laptop donation turnover. 

 

(Despite the current situation, we have hope that we’ll be able to improve the quality of education for all with the help of partners like Amway Philippines.)

 

EaseKul will start late October, with over 300 participants to be identified by DepEd and issued a memorandum regarding the training.

 

realme Philippines #2 in PH

With barely two years of presence in the Philippine market, realme has already catapulted to the second spot of top smartphone brands in the country, the fastest growth speed in local smartphone history. To share the recent win and celebrate with its fans, realme Philippines is dropping the price of its beloved midrange beast realme 6. 

realme Philippines impressed the industry with its record-breaking achievement of 97% Quarter-on-Quarter growth as reported in the Q2 2020 SEA study of Counterpoint Research, braving the challenges faced by the market today. Its commitment to bringing a new standard of experience through top-notch offerings across different product lines resulted in a strong presence in both online and offline markets. The fastest-growing smartphone brand in the Philippines also leveraged organic, direct and innovative communication with its target audience, listening to the needs of its customers intently to offer the fitting technology. 

realme Philippines, as gratitude for its fans and customers’ strong support, is making the price of its 90Hz Helio G90 gaming smartphone realme 6 more affordable. The marked down realme 6, with a 4GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration, now retails for only Php 10,990, Php 1,000 less of its original price of Php 11,990. The price-drop blow-out starts on October 9 and can be availed in all realme stores nationwide and the realme Philippines official stores on Shopee and Lazada.

With the rising popularity of esports in the Philippines, realme aims to equip aspiring Filipino gamers with a smartphone capable of handling mobile gaming adventures. The realme 6 packs a 6.5-inch 90Hz Ultra Smooth Display, 4,300 mAh battery capacity with 30W flash charge, and a MediaTek Helio G90T processor; ensuring a smooth, lag-free and immersive gaming experience. 

“We are extremely grateful for this achievement. The love and support we receive from our fans and customers fuel us to continue innovating the smartphone experience we offer to Filipinos. As we become more accessible in various channels, expect that we are going to bring a wider array of products that bring only the best experience,” shares VP for Marketing Austine Huang. 

As an additional treat for realme fans, every realme 7 purchase in official realme concept stores and kiosks from October 10 to 11 comes with either a free realme band worth Php 1,390 or a free automatic umbrella worth Php 990. This promo can also be availed through Home Credit or major credit cards.

Fans can stay updated with realme Philippines’s latest sale announcements and exciting promos through its officialFacebook and Instagram accounts. 

Beko develops Hygiene Shield to disinfect packaged food and belongings

Since we are all concerned about our health nowadays. We disinfect each products that we received or bought outside when we get home. Many of us are disinfecting supermarket purchases, worrying about handling mobile phones and keys, or not bringing coats into the house. 

People have increased the amount of cleaning and laundry in their homes, with some people disinfecting bedding for the first time. 75% of people are cleaning the house more often, 64% are doing more laundry and 68% are paying more attention to the cleanliness of the packaging on purchased products.

 

Beko, Europe’s leading home appliance brand, has developed Hygiene Shield, a ground-breaking portfolio of household products, created in response to emerging consumer needs in the post-lockdown era. 

The new portfolio includes seven appliances with in-built disinfection programs and functions to disinfect packaged food and belongings to help consumers adjust to the ‘new normal’ at home. Developed as a result of in-depth consumer research conducted across the globe and with innovative new technology, the Hygiene Shield product line has the power to kill more than 99% of bacteria and viruses (including coronavirus), providing a level of reassurance unrivalled in the market place.

Beko’s consumer research, across 31 countries revealed that one of the primary concerns is hygiene. 

The line takes inspiration from nature and uses methods such as steam and heat to enable consumers to achieve excellent hygiene results at home. Arçelik’s CEO Hakan Bulgurlu was joined for a virtual discussion by Arçelik’s CMO, Zeynep Yalım Uzun and guest speakers, medical broadcaster and GP Dr Sarah Jarvis and Christopher Sanderson, Future Laboratory’s Co-founder & CEO to announce the launch.

 

Hakan Bulgurlu says, “It has been a very difficult year and we believe that now more than ever, everyone should have access to good quality products that care for them and the environment. We are excited to introduce Beko’s latest innovations and our first ever full product line to market. The products have been tailored to help consumers achieve professional levels of hygiene at home and protect them from infections and diseases. Our technologies are being independently tested by Airmid Health Group, a respected biomedical research organization. As of today, HygieneShield washing machines and refrigerators have been shown to provide more than 99% bacteria and virus reduction. The tests for the other categories are in progress and we expect to finalize the testing and certification processes by November. We hope that our products will give consumers peace of mind that their homes are safe and clean, as we all continue to adjust to the ‘new normal’.”

 

Dr Sarah Jarvis says, “I’ve spoken positively on TV about UV light for disinfection purposes: it has been widely used for sterilisation in hospitals, airplanes and factories for some years. It has also been used in China since April this year. COVID-19 has made us all think about how we live outside the home, with masks and social distancing, but I’m seeing my patients start to think about hygiene in the home, where we are spending so much more of our time. I don’t think we should all be going back to the work place yet – working from home wherever we can will keep us safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Keeping things clean is the challenge; I advise my patients to wash towels (especially those from the downstairs loo) and dishcloths more frequently and to wash face masks after every use.”

 

Christopher Sanderson, CEO of Future Laboratory, a trend forecasting consultancy in London, writes in a new report, “The home has played a pivotal role in the recent global crisis, forced to double as office, school, gym, restaurant or even a healthcare setting, our homes have become the front line of our external lives.”

 

Heighten your hygiene experience at home 

1.     UV cleaning cabinet 

 

Coronavirus can survive for five days on smooth surfaces so the cabinet uses UV light technology to clean items that you have used outside the home or are concerned about. Keys, phones, wallets, packaged goods from supermarkets, plastic bags, baby bottles and toys can all be safely cleaned in 20-40-minute cycle with no damage to objects. This clever portable device can live anywhere in the home and its touch display makes it as easy to use.

 

2.     Combi refrigerator with disinfection drawer 

 

The refrigerator disinfects food items in their original and sealed packaging, eliminating more than 99% of bacteria and viruses in approximately 40 minutes. Instead of wiping down each item you bring home from the supermarket, or storing them in a safe place for several days, this refrigerator does it for you. Its separate disinfection drawer above the crisper eliminates viruses, bacteria and germs using UV light technology distributed over the compartment. 

 

3. Tumble dryer with UV light technology 

 

It isn’t practical to wash your clothes every day, or to wash some styles of clothes in high temperatures but we still want to feel certain that our clothes are hygienic. 

The tumble dryer eliminates bacteria and viruses and provides disinfection for your laundry in a safe and convenient way. The UV Hygienic Refresh program refreshes up to six dry pieces of clothing. Moreover, the UV Hygienic Drying program dries and sanitizes up to 5 kg of washed laundry even clothes that need washing at low temperatures.  

 

4.& 5. HygieneShield  washing machine and  washer dryer

 

We don’t know how long the Coronavirus can survive on fabric and many of us are worried about our clothing when we get home. What we do know is that people are washing their clothes for longer at higher temperatures as a result of the pandemic. This can get expensive, isn’t sustainable and risks damaging our favorite clothes.

 

With a smart algorithm, an additional heater channel and fan system, the hygiene therapy program fills the drum with hot air to keep the laundry at 60°C to thoroughly sanitize your clothes without water. More than 99% of viruses and bacteria are eliminated from 2 kg of clothes in 58 minutes, saving your money and the planet from the use of chemicals and extra water.

 

6.     Built-in oven with saturated steam and heat

 

This oven doesn’t just cook your food, but cleans it too. Using the exceptional disinfecting power of saturated steam and heat there are two separate disinfection programs available with this appliance, both involving heat and steam, working at 70°C and 120°C respectively. Use of the oven at 70°C for 15 minutes will disinfect the surfaces of packaged food and make the outside of baked goods more hygienic, without affecting their taste and structure. Use of the oven at 120°C for 20 minutes will disinfect items like metal bowls and glass products.

 

7.     HygieneShield dishwasher 

 

People trust their dishwasher much more than hand-washing, and with 79% of us cooking more frequently at home, the dishes can pile up. For extra hygienic results, this machine has a hygiene function with steam and additional hot rinsing functions. 

 

Steam mist generated from using higher temperatures and additional hot rinsing ensures that the entire surface of every dish is perfectly hygienic. Dishwashers with the HygieneIntense function can be used with every program which provides disinfection using higher temperatures of 60°C (during main wash) and 70°C (hot rinsing). The technology also means the temperatures can be held above 60 degrees for 50 minutes to disinfect kitchen items. The Hygiene Intense function provides an additional rinsing step to further increase the levels of hygiene. This technology has been independently tested by Rhine Waal University. 

 

To learn more about product availability and pricing, you may visit their website at http://www.beko.ph/ or follow them on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bekoph/