Mental health support groups eyed in villages

Mental health advocates in Cebu are eyeing to create barangay-based support groups that will assist people suffering from depression and anxiety.

This is among the programs lined up for mental health following yesterday's launching of the "Wellbeing Cluster," a multi-sectoral group.

The group, which is composed of various entities like the Department of Health, the Central Visayas Network of NGOs, the University of San Carlos and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated, wanted to attend to and address the growing incidence of suicide, especially among the youth.

Severe depression and anxiety could often lead to other problems such as suicidal tendencies.

Doctor Sherryl Muli-Abellanosa, Kauban founder and psychology professor at USC, said the school has an eight-monthold program called "Kauban," which means companion.

Kauban deals with mental illness, particularly depression and anxiety. It is run by volunteers offering psycho-education.

The program, Abellanosa said, has already accommodated at least 150 people, as young as 14, since its inception in October 2017.

She said the service is open to the public for free and is held every Friday at the USC main campus in downtown Cebu City.

Also, free consultations are offered at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, a DOH-retained hospital.

With the increasing number of suicide cases, Brenette Abrenica from USC Community Extension Services Office said there is a need to address these mental illnesses.

Citing reports from the World Health Organization,Abellanosa said every 40 seconds a person dies by suicide somewhere in the world. Over 800,000 people die by suicide every year.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29year-olds, said WHO.

The WHO also noted that because of stigma surrounding suicide, it is difficult for many people to seek help.

WHO said suicide is a serious public health problem, but is preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed.

"Raising community awareness and breaking down taboos are important for countries making efforts to prevent suicide," it said.

Abellanosa said people suffering from depression are now learning to come out in the open and speak up about mental health, a topic so taboo for so long. —

May B. Miasco/KBQ