CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government will deploy mental health focal persons in the barangays as part of its campaign to reduce cases of depression that lead to suicides.
During a media briefing Wednesday, Dr. Jaymee Pagaspas, psychosocial unit chief of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), said the city recorded 47 suicide cases in the first three quarters of this year.
"We would like to hear from the constituents about their mental health situation in the community, as this is also part of the administration's program to help cope with depression," Pagaspas said.
Pagaspas said 40 of the city's 80 barangays will initially have mental health focal persons, tasked with facilitating in guiding clients in the communities and bridge them with CSWD by providing initial care and assessment.
Family problems, she said, are a major contributing factor to suicide attempts and deaths in the city.
"Usually, the head of the family doesn't know how to communicate and handle the mental health problems of their children," she said.
To deal with the issue, CSWD launched the Telekonsulta" 24/7 hotline.
Of the 262 callers it received, the CSWD said 155 were women while 107 were men. (PNA)
