Mental health ‘ayuda’ for sectors psychologically hit by pandemic sought

Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan during one of the Senate’s virtual hearings. Screen grab / Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator  Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is pushing for mental health “ayuda” for  certain sectors reportedly psychologically hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent study  of the Asian Development Bank Institute showed  that  the youth deprived of face-to-face classes, women and displaced workers were the most psychologically affected by the pandemic.

Pangilinan then suggested that  they be given mental health treatment.

“Malala ang epekto ng pandemya at lockdown sa ating lahat, pero lalo na sa ating mga kabataan. Maraming nakakaramdam ng isolation. Maraming nakakaramdam ng takot at pag-aalala dahil nawalan ng trabaho o dahil sa kawalang-tiyakan sa trabaho,” he said in a statement.

(The effect of the pandemic and lockdown is worse for everyone, but especially to our youth. Many  are experiencing  isolation,   fears and worries  after losing their job or  because of the uncertainty at work.)

“Mahilig pa naman tayong mga Pilipino makipag-usap. We are a sociable people. Malaking kawalan sa ating buhay ang hindi makita o makausap ang mga kaibigan, kaklase at maging mga katrabaho,”  the senator added.

The National Center for Mental Health, he said,  should also expand its capacity to attend to more people now suffering from depression and other mental health issues due to the pandemic.

People’s mental health must be addressed, Pangilinan stressed.

“Understandable na dahil maraming nawalan ng trabaho o nabawasan ang working hours, at hindi regular ang kita, nakakadagdag sa stress ang walang-kasiguraduhan. At yan ang nagpapalala ng mental health,” he said.

(It’s understandable  that because  many workers  have been displaced  or their working hours have been reduced, the uncertainty is adding stress to them. And that worsens  the  mental health.)

“Kaya naman, bukod sa mental health assistance, kailangan na talagang ayusin ang pagtugon sa pandemya para bumalik na ang economic activity, ang mga trabaho, at ang face-to-face classes,” Pangilinan said.

(That’s why aside from the  mental health assistance, we really need to address the pandemic to resume the economic  activity, employment and face-to-face  classes.)

JPV