Each person’s mental health struggles need personalized solution – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Every individual has different capacities to respond and become resilient to mental health problems, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire was asked for her comment on Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s claim that mental health problems can be “cured” through the training provided under the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

“Hindi po ako psychiatrist o eksperto for me to give that kind of response. Ang masasabi ko lang po, it’s not going to be the same for every person, iba-iba po ang capacity ng isang tao to respond and to become resilient on their own,” she said.

(I am not a psychiatrist or an expert for me to give that kind of response. All I can say is, it’s not going to be the same for every person, the capacity of a person to respond and to become resilient on their own is varying.)

“At iba-iba rin po ang kailangan ng tao para sila ay maging (And a person’s needs are also varying to be able to become) mentally healthy, it’s not going to be the same for each person,” she added.

This came in response to Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s claim

During a Senate subcommittee hearing, Galvez asserted that mental health problems can be “cured”  through the ROTC program but he did not back his claims with data.

READ: ROTC training can ‘cure’ mental health issues, says Galvez

Later, Galvez clarified his statement saying that what he really meant was that the ROTC program could build strength and resilience which has a positive effect on mental health since it bolsters the students’ ability to respond to stressful situations.

DOH, DepEd work to improve mental health services

Vergeire likewise revealed during the press conference that the DOH is currently working with the Department of Education (DepEd) to improve mental health services in schools and ensure the mental health wellness of students.

She also said that mental health hotlines are available even to students in each local government.

Vergeire further said the DOH has already conducted its final deliberations on the mental health packages to be offered by PhilHealth to make it more accessible to the public, including students.

But she stressed that medications are not always necessary in treating mental health problems.

“Minsan kahit counseling nakakatulong na sa mga estudyante so we are working closely with the DepEd on this,” said Vergeire.

(Sometimes even counseling helps the students so we are working closely with the DepEd on this.)

The DepEd previously released data showing that a total of 404 young students in the country took their own lives and 2,147 others attempted suicide during Academic Year 2021-2022.

Vice President and DepEd chief Sara Duterte had also recognized that many students “experience emotional abuse and exhaustion” with some of their woes drawn from psychological fatigue.

RELATED STORIES

Mental health issues rise as daily living becomes more difficult — Pimentel

Youth solon to push for declaration of mental health emergency

KGA/abc