‘Medicines available for mental health problems’

The Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) announced a new program that will help address concerns about mental health.

Dr. Rannie Corazon-Gravador, PHO non-communicable disease medical coordinator, said that the Department of Health is giving medicines to rural health units (RHUs) to treat those diagnosed with mental problems.

Rural health physicians and municipal health officers were also trained to diagnose and treat patients who go to them for mental health evaluation.

RHUs diagnose the first level patients while extreme cases will be referred to the psychiatrists provided by the Philippine Mental Health Association.

These psychiatrists are assigned to examine the patients and conduct medical missions in localities. They also examine the mental health of children.

One of the concerns about mental health problem is the stigma attached to it.

“So we are distributing education materials to the RHUs, hosting information campaigns in community-based programs and we are also talking to the coordinators (in schools). The problem lies in people actually going to the center. There are still some who are imprisoned in their houses, tied or put inside a cage. But usually, when they drink their medicine, they recover,” Gravador said.

Gravador disclosed that the areas mostly affected by mental health problem are in northern Cebu. These include San Remegio, Bogo, Medellin and Bantayan.

Gravador then said that there is a plan by the Cebu Provincial Government to build a mental health facility in the town of Pinamungajan. /