DAVAO CITY -- The City Council is mulling on establishing a Mental Health Division under the City Health office (CHO) to take care of people with mental problems.
City Council Committee Chair on Health, Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said the proposed division will cover all those who need psychological treatment to prevent the illness from worsening.
The division can also offer free medication to any types of mental illnesses.
“We really want to give out free medicines and to ensure that the treatment will not only be acute but the goal is to make them well,” she said.
Villafuerte said her committee is already conducting hearings after the approval of the mental health ordinance for the first reading.
“On October 12, we will have a meeting together with the different concerned agencies like the CHO, City Social Services and Development Office, central 911 and Davao City Police office among others to identify their role in the establishment of mental health division,” she said.
Based on their initial meeting, Villafuerte said the agencies agreed in establishing the division if there should also be a halfway house for the patients especially those already abandoned by their families.
Villafuerte, a doctor by profession, said that most common cause of mental problem is depression and stress.
“These can be easily treated by mental health professionals through counseling and medication. We have to help them so that they can go back to their normal lives,” she said.
“There are so many kinds of mental diseases, some can be cured at home, so those who do not need confinement may take medication at home through the supervision of the barangay psychologists,” she added.
Villafuerte said the ordinance may be passed on 3rd reading next month so that it will be included in next year’s budget. (Funny Pearl Gajunera/PNA)
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