DOH, DepEd add mental health support in disaster response plans

CAVITE CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are working to add mental health efforts into their disaster response plans.

During the Mental Health Month Observance event in Cavite City, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said they noticed a need to include mental health crisis control following an influx of hyperventilation or mass hysteria patients within the first 6 hours of the recent earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental.

“Doon palang, parang sabi namin, ano kaya ang pwede naming gawin? (From there, we wondered what can we do?) As part of earthquake preparedness, we should also include mental health preparedness, mental health in crisis situations. As I’m telling you that, that is one of the more recent reminders after the pandemic na mental health is important especially among the youth,” he shared.

As part of their efforts to promote mental health during disasters, Domingo said they are now instructing doctors to perform brief interventions during the first response.

“Mandatory na magkaron ang first responders ng brief intervention. Ibig sabihin, may kamustahan na mangyayari. Ang karaniwang kasi binabantayan: ubo, sipon, lagnat, pagkatae, etcetera. Ang aming guidance sa ating mga medical doctors, mga nurses, mga health professionals,  dapat nangangamusta rin sila. And when you say nangangamusta, deliberately tatanungin mo yung pasyente, kamusta ang nararamdaman mo, and so on and so forth,” he shared.

(It’s now mandatory for first responders to have brief interventions. This means that a check-in session should happen. What we usually look for is coughs, runny nose, fever, diarrhea, etcetera… Our guidance is that our medical doctors, nurses, health professionals, should also do check-ins. And when you say check-ins, they have to deliberately ask the patient what they’re feeling, and so on and so forth.)

The brief intervention does not stop with the patients or victims. First responders would also have to undergo brief interventions upon returning to their headquarters or posts.

He also added psychiatrists will be tasked to accompany Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams to assist victims who are diagnosed with mental health disorders.

“Kapag may na-pick up sila on-site na, sometimes it happens, you have mental health patients who are taking maintenance medications tapos dahil nagkaron ng sakuna, bagyo, lindol, yung gamot naiwan sa bahay at hindi nadala, baka kailangan maresetahan. ‘Yun yung purpose ng mga spesyalista na sumasama sa mga teams na ito,” he said.

(If they pick someone up on-site, sometimes it happens, you have mental health patients who are taking maintenance medications and a disaster occurs like a typhoon or earthquake and the medicines were left at home, perhaps they need a prescription. That is the purpose of the specialists that would go with these teams.)

Meanwhile, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Georgina Ann Yang shared that they are now creating a mental health crisis response and management program for students during disasters.

“Immediately, may psychological first aid sa panahon ng disaster. Pag wala pa, nakikita natin sa news at social media na kinakabahan, natatakot, andito din po ang guidance counselors at ating mga teachers para gabayan kayo,” she shared.

(Immediately, psychological first aid will be available in times of disasters. If there’s none yet, we can see it in the news and social media that they’ll get nervous and scared, the guidance counselors and teachers are here to be guides.)

“Ito ay simula palang at patuloy natin palalakasin yung mga programa pagdating sa mga mental health at learners support systems,” she added.

(This is only the start and we will continue to strengthen our programs when it comes to mental health and learners support systems.)