Department of Health-CALABARZON assured individuals living with mental health concerns they will be given full support.
Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said all persons with mental health problems in the region will be provided better access to mental health services through a better referral system.
“Once a patient is identified and diagnosed with mental-illness, he/she will be given proper care and treatment and this will continue even if they are admitted to a mental institution or outside the community,” he said.
He added that patients should know that somebody would guide them and would not abandon them.
“They would feel they can rely on somebody in times of their health needs. That’s the essence of universal health care,” Janairo said.
“No health without mental health and no universal health without mental health,” he added.
DOH Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje said the country should move forward to implement the mental health law and unify efforts in the delivery of mental health services both in the health and non-health sectors
“We must bring all key players together both in the government and private sectors, implementers, advocates and users of services alike, and forge a common understand and one direction to take in ensuring the delivery of an integrated mental health services in the country through a truly whole of government and whole of society approach,” she said.
THe DOH officiial also said it is about time to look back and assess the commitments along with the universal health care agenda, which aims to deliver health services that will ensure every Filipino family has access to both primary and specialty care services.
This includes the assessment of service users using the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme intervention guide and the provision of medicines when indicated or referral to the next level of care.
“Recovery from mental illness is possible. We should not be ashamed in asking for help. We all need help sometimes and if we are capable of helping others, let us offer it. We need to everything we can to safeguard our mental health,” Cabotaje added.
The World Health Organization estimated that one out of four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders.
There are about 450 million people who suffer from various mental health concerns which places mental disorders among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
According to the 2000 Philippine Census of Population and Housing, mental illness and mental retardation placed third and fourth, respectively among the types of disabilities that affect the country.