The Holy Face centre has become a refuge for 15 people
Huge need for rehabilitation and awareness raising
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- Brother Roldan works in the Holy Face Centre. The trained psychologist shows confidence and patience when he deals with his clients at the centre. © CBM
Fifteen people currently live in the Holy Face centre. They have been admitted as residents, because their recovery can be at risk if they stay with their families—for example, if the person has suffered from sexual abuse or domestic violence. Since their homes and community are possible sources of threat and distress, the person may likely benefit from the caring and accepting atmosphere of the centre. The centre lays peacefully among green grass and gardens, providing a cool and comforting ambiance of the place.
There are no locked doors at the centre, apart from the room containing the medicines. The 12 male and 3 female patients can leave if they wish to. But apparently they like to stay; some of them have been at the centre for about 6 months to 1 year at the most. In the course of their stay at the centre the patients are trained to engage in income generating projects while at the same time explore their talents in pottery, candle production, twine making out of coconut fibres, or cooking. They also take turns and assume responsibility in the care for 6 pigs and 60 chickens as part of their routine occupational activities while in rehabilitation.
There are no locked doors at the centre, apart from the room containing the medicines. The 12 male and 3 female patients can leave if they wish to. But apparently they like to stay; some of them have been at the centre for about 6 months to 1 year at the most. In the course of their stay at the centre the patients are trained to engage in income generating projects while at the same time explore their talents in pottery, candle production, twine making out of coconut fibres, or cooking. They also take turns and assume responsibility in the care for 6 pigs and 60 chickens as part of their routine occupational activities while in rehabilitation.
The goal is to reintegrate persons with mental health problems into their families and communities
Hopefully, with the help of the pioneering Brothers of Charity, the families, and volunteers, Salvacion and other parts of the area will find a way of making mental health services available to facilitate the reintegration of persons with mental health problems into their families and communities. Then, perhaps, Ronaldo’s wish may come true: "I would like to have my own job and a room of my own."
Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Disorders in Albay Province
With the collaborative existence between Holy Face Rehabilitation Project and the Simon of Cyrene Children’s Rehabilitation and Development Foundation, (a caring agency with programmes on empowerment of persons with disabilities) in Albay province, the opportunity for mental health awareness and services is brought to the communities via a comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme approach.
Encouraged by Dr. Istvan Patkai, a Hungarian psychiatrist working for CBM in Manila since September 2005, Holy Face has begun to explore a collaboration with Simon of Cyrene on the prospect of working more extensively in the communities, not just with families of mental health patients, but also with the surrounding neighbourhood to develop both, a better understanding for patients and a community wide support system.
Community based mental health work builds upon resources available in the communities to provide a supportive and accepting environment for persons with mental disorders, utilizing a combination of medical intervention with a social support system.
WHO-Definition: "Mental disorder is a recognizable set of symptoms or behaviour associated in most cases with distress and with interference with personal functions (WHO 1992)."
Encouraged by Dr. Istvan Patkai, a Hungarian psychiatrist working for CBM in Manila since September 2005, Holy Face has begun to explore a collaboration with Simon of Cyrene on the prospect of working more extensively in the communities, not just with families of mental health patients, but also with the surrounding neighbourhood to develop both, a better understanding for patients and a community wide support system.
Community based mental health work builds upon resources available in the communities to provide a supportive and accepting environment for persons with mental disorders, utilizing a combination of medical intervention with a social support system.
WHO-Definition: "Mental disorder is a recognizable set of symptoms or behaviour associated in most cases with distress and with interference with personal functions (WHO 1992)."
Only 350 psychiatrists for more than 80 million people
There is a great need for mental health awareness in the Philippines; with only 350 psychiatrists to serve in a country, with an estimated population of more than 80 million. Many people do not have access to health services, because they cannot afford them or because they are unavailable in their locality. Therefore, CBM has decided to address the needs of persons with mental or neurological disorders, in addition to the organisation’s other mandates to support partner organisations in the provision of services to people with visual, orthopaedic, or hearing impairments.
CBM’s approach in addressing mental disorders is the application of a wholistic community based rehabilitation approach, and is built upon a twin-track approach of provision of service delivery along side advocacy and rights promotions for persons with mental disorders.
Go back: What Will Become of Him When I Die?
CBM’s approach in addressing mental disorders is the application of a wholistic community based rehabilitation approach, and is built upon a twin-track approach of provision of service delivery along side advocacy and rights promotions for persons with mental disorders.
Go back: What Will Become of Him When I Die?
