MANILA – Malacañang has urged government agencies to check the state of Filipinos’ mental health following the suicide incident involving a Filipina cruise ship worker recently.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has enjoined concerned agencies to provide psychosocial support services to Filipinos experiencing mental health issues while the country is battling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We ask relevant agencies of the government to look into the mental anguish of those adversely impacted by the COVID-19,” Roque said in a virtual press conference.
According to the Palace spokesperson, it is very important to concerned government agencies to ensure that the mental health of the Filipinos is not compromised amid the prevailing pandemic.
On Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. reported that 28-year-old Mariah Jocson, a cruise ship worker for Harmony of the Seas, committed suicide after learning that repatriation flights have been suspended again.
At least 50,000 overseas Filipino workers returned to the Philippines due to job loss since the start of the COVID-19 crisis while around 300,000 more OFWs are expected to arrive in the next few months./PN
