3/1/2017

Press Release
Refer: Shielo Mendoza Reyes (09279223309)

1 in 3 govt employees had suffered nervous breakdown

ANGARA SEEKS WIDER ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Senator Sonny Angara has joined the calls for the immediate passage of a bill that aims to
establish a national mental health policy in the country to ensure that mental health care is
made available even to ordinary Filipinos.

In his co-sponsorship speech of Senate Bill 1354, Angara stressed that the government should
heed the staggering numbers that comprise the countrys mental health problem.

A 2011 World Health Organization study found that the Philippines had the highest incidence of
depression in Southeast Asia.

Almost one out of every 100 households had a member with a mental disorder, based on a 2004
Department of Health (DOH) survey.

The lawmaker also cited a 2006 DOH study which showed that one in three employees from 20
government agencies in Metro Manila had experienced a mental health problem or breakdown at
least once in their lifetimeincluding specific phobias, alcohol abuse and depression.

Our numbers are quite dated, pointing to two dimensions of our problem: 1) that our
institutions are ill-equipped to keep track and treat the mental health of Filipinos; and 2) that
because of this inability, many cases possibly go undiagnosed, said Angara, one of the authors
of the bill.

According to the Philippine Psychiatric Association, there are only 490 psychiatrists serving in the
country today or roughly 50 qualified psychiatrists for every 10 million Filipinos.

Very few of our general practitioners, guidance counselorsnot to mention barangay health
workers or even jail wardensare trained on early assessment and management of common
mental health problems.

"At times, the only course of action we know is to chain up the mentally ill and isolate them from
the rest of society, the senator added.

The proposed measure aims to institutionalize mental health services as a permanent component
of the countrys national health system thereby providing the legal basis for greater investment
of public funds in mental health.

By adopting a rights-based approach, the measure also guards against and aims to eliminate any
abuse a mentally-ill person might endure in the hands of doctors, nurses, caregivers, community
health workers or even from their loved ones.

Lahat ng Pilipinong may suliranin sa pag-iisip ay may angking galing at talino. May kakayahan
at potensyal para makatulong at makapag-ambag sa pag-unlad ng bansa. Nagkataon lang na
mayroon silang kakaibang karamdaman o kalagayan na kailangan ng partikular na paggamot at
pag-aaruga.

We ought to pass the mental health act for these people so that we give them and their families
the opportunity to hope for better lives, Angara said.