SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara has called on concerned agencies to provide sufficient mental health services to displaced families in Marawi City amid reports that 2,500 evacuees have shown symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Angara, one of the authors of Senate Bill 1354 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, said that the crisis in Marawi underscores the urgent need for a mental health law in the country. The House of Representatives has yet to pass a counterpart mental health bill. The landmark measure mandates the government to put up basic mental health services at the community level and psychiatric, psychosocial and neurologic services in all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals.

Source: Manila Times July 04, 2017 15:45 UTC