Dishing out Mental Health care to remote way
The National Mental Health Week is celebrated every second week of October as per Proclamation No. 452 signed by the late President Fidel V. Ramos on August 25, 1994. The World Health Organization also proclaimed October 10 as World Mental Health Day.
When the pandemic struck, the celebration became more significant in the light of the pandemic’s societal devastation. According to University Research Co., COVID- 19 infections have been proven to affect a person’s mental health directly. The DOH estimates at least 3.6 million Filipinos had mental health concerns such as depression, alcohol use disorder and mood disorders such as bipolar disorder during the pandemic.
During the hiatus in the COVID-19 outbreaks, more issues on mental health funding and service accessibility were anticipated. In the Department of Health database for 2020, the need for mental health treatments has surged tremendously. The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has reported a significant increase in monthly depression hotline calls. From 80 pre-lockdown, the cases rose to around 400. The pandemic prompted many psychologists to transition to remote patient monitoring.
In the City of Baguio, the government launched its telemedicine services at the height of the pandemic in 2021 to reach patients through the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted Baguio Health Information Assistant and Vaccine Management System in 2021 by Physician-Pulmonologist Ruel Revilla. Subsequently, it also launched the “Bantay Covid” digital platform in 2021 enlisting the help of volunteer doctors and other health professionals to do telemedicine for home-isolated patients. The remote consultations included assessment of the patients’ mental health. City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Donnabel Panes said a total of 2,098 calls were made by 15 volunteer health workers including psychiatrists.
The Baguio City Health Services Office has also been entertaining mental health consultations through its telephone helpline 09190696361. Nurse Ricky B. Ducas, mental health program coordinator, estimates a 23 percent rise in mental health cases in 2021 compared to the 30 instances reported in 2020. People with mental health concerns may contact the helpline to have their conditions evaluated and get appropriate treatments before undergoing any therapy prescribed by professionals.
The need for remote patient monitoring also inspired private individuals like Myra Gahid, a licensed clinical psychometrician, psychologist, volunteer and author from the call to respond to the need. As one of the psychology advocates for raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts to support mental health, she continued her passion and pledge for her profession despite the crisis by starting her podcast in July 2020 entitled “Sa Labas ng Classroom.” It began when her students encouraged her to start doing podcasts and educating listeners about mental health.
Even as an elementary school pupil, Gahid had known that she had grit in understanding human well-being and providing context for everything that revolved around a person’s mind. She received her degree from Saint Louis University in 2014 and passed her licensing examination in 2017. Later, she worked in psychology-related fields, including human resources, sales, and teaching at her alma mater. Currently, she is affiliated with Psychstart Psychological, Academic and Art Services. – Via Alyssa Fronda
