BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Council has unanimously approved on first reading a proposed measure to establish “mental awareness desks” in all barangays across the metropolis.
This initiative is designed to promote mental health awareness and ensure accessible support and resources for residents.
Several groups of psychiatrists have expressed support to the proposed measure; they pledged to assist and offer their expertise to help implement the initiative effectively.
The primary goal of the Mental Awareness Desk is to gather crucial data to help the city government develop appropriate solutions for mental health issues.
By collecting information on the mental health needs of residents, the desk will serve as a valuable tool in identifying trends and specific challenges within each barangay.
“By equipping the barangay health workers with the know-how, they can easily provide appropriate solutions on the recurring problems on mental health,” said Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, the measure’s proponent.
The help desks will not only provide immediate assistance such as counseling and referrals at the community level to those in need but also support long-term efforts to address mental health issues more effectively across the city.
The initial plan is to establish Mental Awareness Desks in each of the seven districts of Iloilo City before expanding the initiative to all barangays.
This phased approach will allow the city government to assess the effectiveness of the program on a smaller scale, making necessary adjustments before rolling it out citywide.
This strategy aims to ensure that the desks are properly staffed and equipped to provide the necessary support and resources for residents facing mental health challenges./PN
