THE ENACTMENT of the Mental Health Law is most welcome. It will ensure affordable and accessible mental health services to Filipinos with mental disabilities.
This landmark legislation is expected to usher in a new chapter in mental healthcare policy and service delivery in the Philippines as it would integrate mental health in all health services and policy initiatives.
Mental healthcare should be delivered as an integral part of our primary healthcare system amid the growing number of mental illnesses that are left untreated due to lack of mental facilities and of physicians who are sufficiently trained to handle and treat mental conditions.
As early as 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there were 2,558 cases of Filipinos committing suicide, averaging to seven suicide cases per day. The Department of Health, for its part, reported that one in five Filipino adults has some form of mental illness, topped by schizophrenia, depression and anxiety.
Further adding to the woes of those afflicted with mental health illnesses is the shortage in qualified mental health professionals. At present, there are only an estimated 490 psychiatrists and 1,000 nurses working in psychiatric care, and even less general practitioners trained in early assessment and management of common mental health problem in the community. The number of addiction specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, guidance counselors and social workers are extremely inadequate to meet the mental health needs of 100 million Filipinos.
Data shows that there are only two mental hospitals, 46 outpatient facilities, four-day treatment facilities, 19 community-based psychiatric inpatient facilities and 15 community residential (custodial home-care) facilities in the entire country. Almost all mental health facilities are in major cities, while the only mental hospital in the National Capital Region houses only 4,200 beds.
Many of the health problems we encounter arise from mental conditions. Our physicians see a significant proportion of common symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and back pain for which they don’t find a cause. If we will be able to identify patients’ psychosocial stressors and common mental and behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance use, we can understand more about what drive these symptoms and be able to give appropriate care and treatment.
