Mental health and psychosocial support are essential components of any health system. Typhoon Yolanda devastated communities, damaging or destroying mental health facilities and services. WHO is working with the Department of Health (DOH) to rehabilitate mental health services in the region.
Initially, WHO tackled Yolanda-related mental health issues such as psychological distress, trauma-related conditions and disaster-induced depression through psychological first aid training. Psychological first aid equips communities with the tools needed to support survivors as well as identify and refer cases which need professional care.
As the response moved into recovery, the WHO together with the International Medical Corps has already trained over 300 community workers and health professionals on WHOs’ Mental health Gap Action Program (MhGAP). The MhGAP enables community workers and health professionals to treat a large number of patients close to home.
Dr Socorro Campo, health officer of the municipality of Salcedo in Easter Samar, joined one of the first WHO trainings on MhGAP in the typhoon affected region. “Before I would have to send people hours away to get treatment but now we are able to treat people in our own community who we know and are close to.” One of Dr Campo’s patients, Jimmy Sabulaw struggled with mental health issues, "When it would rain I couldn't sleep and I was out of a job but when I started seeing Dr Campo, she began talking to me every week and would give me my medication." Jimmy now has work delivering water within the community which he attributes to the encouragement and support from Dr Campo.
Evidence and experience show that people who feel safe, connected, calm and hopeful, have access to social, physical and emotional support, and feel able to help themselves after a disaster will be better able to recover long-term from mental health effects. The WHO together with the DOH and other health partners are continuing to train over 1,200 community workers and health professionals to address the mental health needs in the typhoon affected areas one year on.