THE Davao chapter of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA-Davao) aims to bring their advocacy to the grassroots communities to help them better understand mental health.
Teofilo Limikid, PMHA-Davao executive director, said on Monday, June 20, 2022 they are implementing a community-based mental health psychosocial support wherein they partner with different barangays and local government units to train frontliners on mental health.
“It could be the nurse, midwife, it could be the councilors or the kagawad. Or in some barangays, naay ginatawag na (we have the) barangay council for mental health, kadto among gina-target mismo (that’s our main target). Kadtong naa sa authority mismo para naay tingog over sa ilang constituents (Those who have authority over their constituents),” Limikid said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference.
Through this, Limikid said campaign on mental health will have better reach to the grassroots communities and educate them on the matter.
He added that through the program, indigent Dabawenyos will have access to services and have basic knowledge on mental health especially considering that professional consultation could be expensive.
“Dili lang ni trabaho sa mga (This is not only a job for) professionals sa (in) mental health, kay kung magdepende pa ta ani nilang mga professional, pirting mahala unya kung ikaw daw pila ra’y sweldo nimo unya naa ka’y ginabati muadto pa ka sa spsychologist na P1,000 to P1,500 per consultation (because if we depend on them, it could get very expensive. A single consultation could cost P1,000 to P1,500),” Limikid said.
He added that an alternative for the grassroot communities is through collective effort wherein members of the community can open up to each other to listen and help process their mental health situation.
“Let’s grab the opportunity na ma-express nato atong gipangbati kay (to let people express what they feel because) actually in a psychological perspective, ang importante sa tao para ma-maintain niya ang iyang mental health is naa’y maminaw sa iyaha (a person can maintain their mental health if they have someone who listen to them). Bisan wala kay isulti o i-advice, ma-feel lang sa tao na naa ka naminaw, dako na kana na relief (Even if you don’t have anything to say or advice, as long as you listen, that’s a big help for them).”
Limikid said mental health issue should be addressed because even though it is not talked about as other issues, it is still prevalent and could bring huge damage to the economy.