Patients’ mental health protection sought amid drug war

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A bill seeking the creation of a Philippine mental health council and a national mental health care delivery system has been filed at the House of Representatives by Ifugao lawmaker Teodoro Baguilat Jr. to promote mental health protection and improve mental health services in the country.

“The state of our mental health facilities is dire and we lack a coherent program. The need to immediately provide these is more pronounced now when we are in the middle of a drug ‘war’. The reintegration of alleged drug addicts into society will require mental health support,” he said.

“I believe that drug addiction is one among many mental health issues and a holistic campaign against drug use will need adequate facilities and programs to address the mental health needs of addicts. What we have right now is far from enough,” he added. 

READ: High time: The drug problem through a new lens

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), Baguilat Jr. said that almost one of every 100 households has a member with mental disability.  

As early as 2003, intentional self-inflicted cases were found to be the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos 20 to 24 years old. The incidence of suicide in males increased from 0.23 to 3.59 per 100,000 between 1984 and 2005, Baguilat said, while rates rose from 0.12 to 1.09 per 100,000 in females.

Additionally, individuals with chronic mental illness, children of overseas Filipino workers and those in areas of armed conflict have higher risk of developing mental health problems.

"Then there is the serious problem of lack of qualified personnel," Baguilat said.

In the proposed bill, it was mentioned that there are only about 490 psychiatrists and 1,000 nurses working in psychiatric care, and even fewer general practitioners trained in early assessment and management of common mental health problems in the community. 

"The number of addiction specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, guidance counselors and social workers are extremely inadequate to meet the mental health needs of 100 million Filipinos," the lawmaker said.

There are only two state-run mental hospitals, 46 outpatient facilities, four-day treatment facilities, 19 community-based psychiatric inpatient facilities and 15 community residential (custodial home-care) facilities for the whole country. 

Almost all mental health facilities are in the major cities, while the only mental hospital in the National Capital Region houses 4,200 beds only.

Thus, Baguilat said the bill seeks to integrate mental health services into the national health system to meet the needs of those who lack access to readily-available, affordable and equitable mental health care, especially the poor. 

The proposal, among other solutions, seeks to create the Philippine Council for Mental Health as an attached agency of the DOH, to provide a rational and unified response to mental health problems, concerns and efforts through the formulation and implementation of the National Mental Health Care Delivery System, Baguilat said.