ROXAS City – It’s okay, not to be okay. But seek help, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Capiz.
The PHO has opened two hotline numbers for people with mental health problems like depression – 09219912064 and 09162411596. These are open 24 hours.
Jasmin Gallaza, PHO mental health coordinator, said they are ready to extend mental health and psychosocial support to those who need them.
She described as alarming incidents of suicide in Capiz. The Capiz Police Provincial Office recorded 19 since January this year.
The age brackets and number of suicide victims were:
* 17 to 30 years old – two
* 31 to 45 years old – eight
* 45 years old and above – nine
Gallaza also emphasized the importance of family support to persons with mental health problems.
Republic Act No. 11036 (Mental Health Act) defines “mental health condition” as a “neurologic or psychiatric condition characterized by the existence of a recognizable, clinically-significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflects a genetic or acquired dysfunction in the neurobiological, psychosocial, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. The determination of whether a mental health condition exists shall be based on the best available scientific and medical evidence.”
The law, approved only on June 21, 2018, protects the rights of mental health patients as follows:
* right to freedom from discrimination
* right to protection from torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment
* right to aftercare and rehabilitation
* right to be adequately informed about psychosocial and clinical assessments
* right to participate in the treatment plan to be implemented
* right to evidence-based or informed consent
* right to confidentiality; and right to counsel, among others
The Act also incorporates rights for “concerned individuals”, incorporating patient relatives and mental health professionals. In this context, a mental health professional refers to a medical doctor, psychologist, nurse, social worker or any other appropriately-trained and qualified person with specific skills relevant to the provision of mental health services (Section 4 of the Act).
The Act highlights the need to provide psychosocial support to family members of the patient if required and, with informed patient consent, to include them in the planning of treatment for the patient./PN
