E. Visayas mental disorder cases alarming: DOH

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 16 -- The Department of Health (DOH) expressed alarm over mental health cases in Eastern Visayas with men belonging to the working class comprising the majority of the patients.

DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Minerva Molon said about 60 percent of those who sought consultations in government clinics in recent years are males who are adolescent until 60 years old.

“We are concern because most of those males suffering mental disorder are breadwinners of their families,” Molon said in an interview Tuesday.

Since 2012, government mental health experts in the region have been examining about 1,000 patients a year.

Molon admitted that the government is incapable of dealing with all people suffering serious mental illness considering that the DOH has only nine psychiatrists and three from the private sector.

“The most important is family support. If you notice someone with abnormal behavior such as sleeping disorder, no appetite to eat, no inclination to go to school or work, you have to reach out to them to prevent a serious disorder,” Molon added.

Signs of mental disorder include loneliness, reduced ability to concentrate, excessive worries, extreme feelings of guilt, extreme mood changes of highs and lows, withdrawal from friends and activities, significant tiredness, low energy, hallucinations, inability to manage stress, alcohol or drug abuse, excessive anger, hostility or violence, and suicidal thinking.

He urged the public to bring those suffering mental illness to government hospitals since there are available interventions for them.

The national mental health program includes information drive, service delivery to detect and treat the problem, institutionalization of policies, development of a research culture and capacity, capacity building, public-private partnership, establishment of database and information system, development of model programs, and monitoring and evaluation. (SQM/PNA)