TY  - GEN
AU  - Toledo, Camille B.
AU  - Cuyco, Ethel C. (Chairperson)
AU  - Gangoso, Adimelca C. (Institutional Partner)
AU  - Valido, Ezra M. (Defense Panel Member)
TI  - A community-based mental health program for the Municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato
KW  - Community mental health services--Tulunan, North Cotabato, Philippines
KW  - Mental health illness
KW  - Mental disorders
KW  - Prevention and control
N1  - Graduate School of Public and Development Management
N2  - Globally, an estimate of one in four people or 250 million individuals is having a mental disorder. The global burden of mental disorders account for thirteen percent (13%) worldwide and contributes greatly to the decreased productivity of each individual (WHO, 2009). Despite the overwhelming number of people affected, only a small percentage receives basic treatment. This is even more pronounced in developing countries where facilities and policies for these populations are lacking (Word Health Organization, 2003). In Tulunan, North Cotabato, there were 30 documented cases of mental disorders in 2016. An unstructured program is being implemented that is limited only to distribution of medications and there was no integration of the program in the primary health care.   This study aimed to develop a mental health program for the municipality of Tulunan, North Cotabato. Specifically, by learning the essential elements in implementing a community-based mental health program; by knowing the status of the program; by identifying the gaps in the program; and developing strategies to close those gaps.  This study was a descriptive study. The study utilized literature review to identify essentials elements in implementing the program. Surveys and questionnaires were used to learning the current status of the program, particularly in areas of disease prevalence, knowledge and attitude of health workers and the referral system of the program. In-depth interviews and key informant interviews were used to identify the gaps.  Majority of the cases in Tulunan were psychosis, in their reproductive age and lack employment. In the survey conducted for health workers, most agree that they have a role in managing patients but they do not believe that home or community management was effective. Also, health workers have no awareness of their specific role in the management of mental illness and that they were not aware of the services offered in the rural health unit. This may have resulted to the poor referral system in the center.  Gaps identified in the program were lack of policy and budget, lack of knowledge of health workers with regards to mental health, limited specialist human resources, and poor system for monitoring and evaluation. Most of the identified gaps was rooted from the lack of policy for mental health in the municipality. Lobbying for the policy was started with local health board through the MHO. Knowledge of the health workers was also addressed through a mental health literacy program. The lack of finances for program implementation was addressed through presentation of project proposals for funding from the Philhealth funds of the office.  Thus, this study has successfully pioneered a mental health program in the municipality to ascertain that and patients would attain a good quality of life through the program.
ER  -