BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental conducted free mental health consultations recently. One hundred three residents were served.
They were given anti-psychotic and other essential medicines, according to Nurse Juan Carlos Solidarios of the CHO.
Most of the patients had schizophrenia, while some were suffering from anxiety or depression, said Solidarios, facilitator of the CHO’s Special Mental Health Program.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. It may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.
People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may help improve the long-term outlook.
On the other hand, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.
Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time.
Depression, meanwhile, is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, depression affects how one feels, thinks and behaves, and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. A person with depression may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes may feel as if life isn’t worth living.
Solidarios thanked Dr. Angelo Jesus Vicente Villegas Arias, accredited psychiatrist of the Department of Health and member of the Philippine Psychiatric Association’s Board of Directors.
Arias, for his part, said mental disorders should be addressed early; if not, these could worsen over time.
The patient may start experiencing hallucinations, lose sleep and suffer from depression that may lead to suicide, sad Arias./PN
