The country’s first integrated mental health information system was launched Monday in a bid to address effectively the needs of patients suffering from mental illness.
The creation of an information system was prompted by a campaign of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson “Into the Light project. The project aims to eliminate stigma against mental illness by promoting awareness and understanding on its implications to individuals, communities, and on a national-scale.
Professor Maria Lourdes Amarillo, project leader for mental health information system, said the identification of the magnitude of the problem is the first step to end stigma against mental illness.
“The creation of effective solutions to address the needs of mental illness patients on a large scale begins with the collation of reliable baseline data,” Amarillo said.
The data gathered, according to Amarillo, will generate information that is useful in planning, programming, policy and decision-making that will help the government to focus on outcomes-based medication and treatment of patients as well proper information to their families and caregivers.
Category(s):Mental Health in Asia
Source material from Inquirer Technology
