BACOLOD City – Mental health professionals and advocates here proposed the creation of a coordinating body to manage initiatives on psychosocial measures and approach to the city’s response against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
This developed after the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Against COVID-19 saw increase in cases of anxiety and depression among COVID-19 patients.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the taskforce, noted that people are becoming anxious and extremely self-protective bordering on discrimination.
Thus, he conducted a dialogue with mental health practitioners in the city.
“We are planning to establish a Mental Health Office to centralize and integrate relevant mental health measures, and to ensure a holistic approach in health and wellness,” Familiaran said.
It was also agreed during the meeting the establishment of an online support system for quarantined individuals and their families, COVID-19 positive patients, and for the general public’s benefit.
Familiaran said he will bring up to Mayor Evelio Leonardia and to the IATF all these proposals.
A follow-up meeting will be held on July 9 at the Bacolod City Government Center, he added.
Familiaran also reminded Bacolodnons to take care of their mental health by “thinking positive, doing exercise, eating healthy food, and getting a good sleep.”/PN
