MENTAL HEALTH CONGRESS

Mrs. Jocelyn S. Baraceros [rigth], chapter executive manager as she award the plaque of appreciation to Dr. Manolo P. Hernal [left].

Health Care Research Institute held last December 13, 2009 a Mental Health Congress

for the Nursing Students of Cabanatuan City on Palayan City Convention Center with 500 participants. PMHA was been a beneficiary of the said event. All the participants in the event was automatically became a member of the association.

Dr. Manolo P. Hernal, president of Diabetes Philippines-Nueva Ecija Chapter, talked about the chronic condition which is Diabetes and its mental health concern, Depression. The topic was very timely as World Mental Health Day 2010 theme was:“MENTAL HEALTH AND LONG TERM PHYSICAL ILLNESS”.

This year’s World Mental Health Day, Sunday 10th October 2010, has adopted the important theme of promoting well-being by focusing on mental health and long- term physical illness. PMHA for the 2010 will be hand in hand with other organizations like Diabetes Philippines concerning chronic conditions.

LINK CLUB of Science High School in action vs. ONDOY

Due to the devastating effect of ONDOY in Nueva Ecija, great lost happened in some areas specially in Caranglan.

LINK CLUB, a high school-based mental health club, organized a relief operation for the victims of Ondoy. They were able to gather more than 30 sacks of assorted goods. The event was due the effort of Mr. Cesar Legaspi, the LINK CLUB Adviser of Science High School through the guidance of MRS. Conchita Palomo, principal of the said school.

PMHA helps in Medical and Dental Mission

Letty S. Uy Foundation held a medical and dental mission last October 19, 2010. Philippine Mental Health Association volunteer nurses helps during the event in giving initial assessment. Almost 1000 patients were benefited. Mrs. Zenaida F. del Rosario, vice-chairman of PMHA headed the group.

Mrs. Jocelyn S. Baraceros, chapter executive manager and Mr. John Ryan A. Buenaventura, EIS-program coordinator, in behalf of the PMHA, would like to thanks the volunteer nurses who did a very GREAT JOB.

59TH NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Part of the Celebration of the 59TH NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WEEK, Philippine Mental Health Association placed informational banners on different schools in the province of Nueva Ecija like in Nueva Ecija High School and in Honorato C. Perez Memorial Science High School, respectively.

59TH NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

The Philippine Mental Health Association Nueva Ecija - Cabanatuan City Chapter had celebrated the 59TH NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WEEK last October 23, 2010. PMHA held a lecture forum in Nueva Ecija High School with the Global theme,“Mental Health in Primary Care: Enhancing Treatment and Promoting Mental Health,”and sub-theme, “Bringing Harmony to Family and School by Understanding Your Children’s Behavior.”

The activity was attended by 150 participants composed of School Heads, Students, and Professionals.

Community Mental Health

University of the Philippines Open University had created Community Mental Health, a non-formal course delivered through combination of online learning and face-to-face sessions. Community Mental Health addressed the different issues in mental health such as the inadequate mental health service providers in the country and low mental health literacy.

The course will introduce the basic concept of mental health as a public health issue and how it impacts on community health care in general. Students will also receive basic skills training on identifying symptoms of common mental disorders, providing early intervention at a community level, and psychosocial processing.



The course will enable participants to:

1. Define mental health, mental health problems, and mental illness;
2. Discuss the relationship of mental health to overall well-being across the lifespan
3. Identify and explain the determinants of mental health and mental illness in the community
4. Develop a community mental health plan
5. Illustrate ways to promote mental health and integrate mental health activities in existing community programs ( for example disaster, child programs, day care services, drug prevention programs, etc.)


This 12-week course is delivered through a blended mode of teaching-learning using both online and face to face sessions. The course package includes course guide, handouts, course readings and CDs.


For more information, please visit:

www.upou.edu.ph for
online registration, or visit the
Faculty of Management and Development Studies,
UPOU HQ, Los Baños, Laguna.

32% of gov’t employees suffered mental health problem

Friday, 30 May 2008
By Tessa Salazar

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Around 32 percent of government employee-respondents had experienced mental health problems at least once, 15 percent had specific phobias, 10 percent were alcoholics, and 6 percent suffered from depression. These are findings of a 2006 pilot study done by the Department of Health’s National Epidemiological Center on several government agencies at the National Capital Region.

The study involved employees from the 20 national agencies in Metro Manila.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque revealed the data during a speech before the First Mental Health Summit on April 21.

Psychiatrist Dr. Eduardo Tolentino stressed, however, that the data were “based on a pilot study of only over 300 subjects,” and that a nationwide study would have to follow this year as soon as the funds are ready.

Promote mental health

Duque said part of DoH’s goals is to promote mental health in the general population, to reduce the risks and prevalence of mental disorders, and improve the quality of life of those who are affected. “These are lofty goals but crafted in realistic proportions,” he said.

Using the department’s recently completed mental health assessment system based on the World Health Organization-Assessment Instrument for Mental Health System, Duque revealed that 5 percent of health care expenditures by the DoH (or an estimated P484 million) are directed toward mental health.

Mental health facilities

He added that 95 percent of these are spent on the operations of mental health facilities.

The national center for Mental Health in NCR, which has around 4,200 beds, currently serves as the main referral unit for mental illnesses in the country.

There are acute psychiatric units in seven DoH-retained hospitals in NCR and psychiatric in-patient regional facilities in 10 of the 17 regions.

These DOH facilities are complemented by other government facilities with mental health units which are able to provide a wide range of services including acute to long-term in-patient care, crisis stabilization care and specialized care for children, adolescents and the elderly.

“However, there are no district in-patient facilities in the country and there are also few community mental health services available for our patients. And this is where we need to do more so that we can make mental health services more accessible to patients at the community level.”