LUCENA CITY – Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local government of General Luna in Quezon has adopted a program to help families take care of loved ones with mental health problems.
Graphics: Marie Faro / INQUIRER.net
“We have to overcome this stereotype concept of people with mental health problems. They are also God’s creation that also needs understanding, love, care and respect,” Mayor Matt Erwin Florido said in a social media post.
The mayor said the local government will also seek the support of religious leaders and organizations to help provide counselling to whoever is suffering from depression brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florido initiated the “We Care Program” to address the social and medical needs of at least 22 town residents who have mental health issues.
Citing initial data from local health office, the mayor disclosed that most of the patients belong to indigent families.
“They don’t have the means to buy the needed medicines and provide them with regular medical check-ups,” Florido revealed.
Under the program, the local government will provide free medicines to residents with mental illness and assist their respective families with transportation and other support for the patient’s therapy or check-ups.
Florido also tasked the local health office to assign employees who will monitor the progress of patients and extend continuous assistance to their families.
Livelihood assistance and job opportunities will likewise be provided to natives with mental health problems once they fully recover to help them return to normal lives.
Florido declared that the local government will enact a local mental health ordinance to address the issue.
“We will also have a mental health hotline,” he added.