The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Story and photo by Leilani S. Junio Philippines News Agency
The Department of Health (DOH) last Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement to enhance the basic interventions needed to address existing gaps in the Philippines’s mental healthcare services.
The agreement, which establishes the “Hopeline Project” that’s designed to provide responsive mental healthcare services, was signed by Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Director Dr. Bernardino Vicente, DOH-National Capital Region Director Ariel Valencia, and Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) founder and President Jean Goulbourn.
Goulbourn, a designer and wellness advocate, set up the NGF many years ago to help those suffering from depression through educational lectures, confidential crisis lines and referrals to partner-psychologists.
She said the NGF is very happy with the efforts of Ubial to fill the mental-health gaps as one of the DOH’s priorities under the Duterte administration.
“I’m very proud that she comes from the DOH, so alam niya lahat ng patakbo at lahat ng nangyayari sa buong country, kasi may experience na siya sa lahat—from family health to maternity, at ngayon ay napaka-interesado siyang ayusin ang mental-health program natin,” Goulbourn said, referring to Ubial, who served as assistant secretary in the department before her appointment to her current post.
Under the Hopeline Project, a phone-based counseling service will be provided to individuals suffering from depression. The service aims to prevent suicides and make the necessary referrals needed upon assessment. It will start operating 24/7 in September.
The service’s hotline numbers are (02) 804-HOPE (4673), and 0917-558-HOPE (4673) and 2919. These numbers are currently operating in Cebu City under the NGF.
“We are very optimistic that we can fully implement Hopeline and address mental-health issues in a very innovative way,” Ubial said.
She also said the mechanism for the counseling will work in a “coded manner,” in which the age group and status of the caller (student, working, young, old, etc.) can be determined by pressing the appropriate numbers to key in through the guided call.
“We are actually developing a system in which, if the person is advised to go to the hospital or to see a counseling group, there will be a feedback mechanism from the group that the person/patient actually goes there and avails [himself or herself] of the services,” the health chief said.
She said, however, that the feedback will be available only to facilities where the DOH has a partnership with.
In addition, she said, they will also enhance the system wherein trained counselors who will entertain the calls can respond in different local languages, so that the caller can fully understand when he or she seeks advice.