Community Health Nursing 1

(Individual and Family as Clients)

Section 21009
Monday 9:00-12:00pm

Rañola, Andrey Mary C. 10/26/20

202015205 Prof. Teresita Merin

ACTIVITY FOR MIDTERM: TOPIC ON MENTAL HEALTH

DIRECTION:

Submit here the activity for today 10/26/20

1.WHAT is the mental health gap?

2.Why is there a mental health gap?

3. Is there a program for these conditions in the Philippines? What is the program title?

1. What is the mental health gap?

 The WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) aims at scaling
up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders for
countries especially with low- and middle-income.

 The programme asserts that with proper care, psychosocial assistance

and medication, tens of millions could be treated for depression,
schizophrenia, and epilepsy, prevented from suicide and begin to lead
normal lives– even where resources are scarce. Mental, neurological,
and substance use disorders are common in all regions of the world,
affecting every community and age group across all income countries.
While 14% of the global burden of disease is attributed to these
disorders, most of the people affected - 75% in many low-income
countries - do not have access to the treatment they need.

 The World Health Organization in collaboration with DOH and LGU’s help
each other to implement the mental health program (mhGAP) which
aims to reduce the increasing rate of mental health in the Philippines by
providing counselling and free medication that could help to lessen the
neurological disorder
2. Why is there a mental health gap?
 Mental, neurological and substance use disorders are highly
prevalent and burdensome globally. The gap between what is
urgently needed and what is available to reduce the burden is still
very wide.
 Only 1% of the global health works in mental health and 45% of the
world’s population live in a country with less than one psychiatrist
for 100,000 people.
  Not everyone inside the community have the ability to access the
expensive services about mental health because of poverty.

 It is underfunded by the government which means that there is

absence of financial support that hinders people not to access the
service.

 According to the World Health Organization’s power point

presentation titled “Introduction to mhGAP”. The two images below
shows that the rate of lacking health professionals who specialized
in mental health that makes their services expensive and not
affordable for each individual

3. Is there a program for these conditions in the Philippines? What is the

program title?
 There is a Mental Health Program or Mental Health Policy initialized
by DOH, aims to promote a better quality of mental health care in
the country, to reduce the burden of mental illness, and to protect
the rights of people afflicted by mental illnesses. Programs of the
Department of Health under the Mental Health Policy include the
improvement of the promoting of knowledge of mental health,
national and local provision of services and facilities regarding the
 treatment of mental health, support for the research and training on
mental health, and other initiatives. The National Program
Management Committee and the Program Development and
Management teams were organized in order to oversee and manage
the development of the program and to create the protocols
regarding the specific policies that were implemented.

 However, mostly in the Philippines, home care management for

mentally ill patients is advocated. This is also referred to as
deinstitutionalization of mental health care, so as to apply the
promotive and preventive levels in this aspect of health rather than
pursue the curative and rehabilitative care.

 The National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong, is one of the

available mental health facility; its mission is happiness for better
mental health while vision to provide comprehensive mental health
care in community based settings, to strengthen effective leadership
for mental health and to strengthen evidence- based research for
mental health.

 There are small branches that are associated with national center for
mental health that are overcrowding, poorly functioning units,
facilities are not well taken care of, there is also limited staffs and
most importantly the funding is not well sustained.

 The Philippines has recently passed the first Mental Health Act
(Republic Act.no. 11036) which seeks to establish the access to
comprehensive and integrated mental health services but still
protects the rights of the individuals and family about their mental
health.

 However, mental health is poorly resourced, lack of financial support

ranging from 3-5% of the budget while 70% is given to hospital
facilities for physical health.

 The Department of Health-CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,

Rizal, Quezon) started a five-day training, starting from October 22,
2019, for two batches on “Mental Health Global Action Program
(mhGAP) Version 2” for municipal health workers, nurses and
pharmacists of the region to bridge the gap between available
resources and the significant need for services held at Ciudad
Christhia Resort in San Mateo, Rizal. The training allowed the health
workers to effectively manage and provide treatment to persons with
mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders using
algorithm for clinical decision making as mandated by the WHO
mhGAP in non-specialized setting.
Sources:

Araneta, M. R. (2019, October 22). DOH sets five-day mental health training.
Retrieved October 26, 2020, from
https://www.manilastandard.net/news/national/308133/doh-sets-five-day-
mental-health-training.html

Famorca, Z. U., Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2013). Nursing care of the
community. Singapore: Elsevier.

Introduction to mhGAP. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from

https://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/intro_slides.pdf?ua=1

Mental Health Program. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2020, from

https://www.doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-
program#:~:text=To%20promote%20over%2Dall%20wellness,to%20participate
%20fully%20in%20society.

mhGAP: Mental Health Gap Action Programme: Scaling Up Care for Mental,
Neurological and Substance Use Disorders. Geneva: World Health Organization;
(2008) Mental Health Gap Action Programme. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310854/

WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). (2020, January 31). Retrieved
October 26, 2020, from https://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/en/