Programs

The WAPR mission translates into the following programs:

Capacity building of mental health workers in the allied medical professions and primary health care workers as well as the LGU staff to provide community-based mental health services;

  • These capacity building programs have been undertaken in remote areas of the Philippines as well as those affected by disasters. “Reaching the Unreached: Integrating MH care in general health care and community development,” is the theme underpinning these programs.WAPR has sustained programs of capacity building and training of existing health staff at the local government level. As a result, these trained primary health workers can be more available and accessible especially in towns and barangays.
  • WAPR-Philippines has pioneered in the conduct of telepsychiatry, i.e., the tele-mentoring of trained health workers so that they can sustain their provision of mental health care after their training, thus, minimizing dependency on mental health professionals who are generally scarce.
  • This way WAPR Phil has participated in the conceptualization and development of mental health capacity building programs by government and other NGOs. It has taken a lead in the formulation of the Philippine Mental Health Law.WAPR Phil has contributed to the formulation of a provision of the Philippine Mental Health Act (RA 11036, Chapter 4 Section 16) that mandates the development of mental health services integrated in the local government health care delivery, and Chapter 6 on Capacity building which emphasizes reorientation and capacity building in mental health for mental health stakeholders, especially community-based health workers.

Advocacy for stakeholders, especially the duty bearers, to implement the MH Act of 2018 and enable the provision of MH services and Networking and Resource Mobilization to support capacity building, direct provision of MH services, and empowering communities.

  • Advocacy activities have been ongoing to address the prevailing societal stigmatization of anything “mental/psychological”; and to promote humanistic care of patients by their family and care-givers outside the institution and in the communities where they live.
  • WAPR Philippines has organized a Mini-Olympics for those who have recovered from mental health conditions and have since returned home or have had to live in home care facilities because their families have either rejected caring further for them or have abandoned them. Institutions and home care facilities have partnered with WAPR Phil in this annual event because they have demonstrated that these service users have anticipated participation in the games and have shown improvement in the social behavior.
  • WAPR Phil has led the organization of HUMAN, a network of human rights and advocate-non-government organization for Mental Health, so that these advocacy activities could be coordinated.
  • HUMAN has produced the MH Infographics both in Pilipino and English to provide general information on “Psychosocial Wellbeing in the Midst of the Pandemic.” These were published and distributed these in late March 2020. These are:
    • Psychosocial Wellbeing for Everyone
    • Psychosocial Wellbeing for Frontline Health Workers
    • Psychosocial Wellbeing for Children
    • Psychosocial Wellbeing for the Elderly.
  • WAPR Philippines, in collaboration with HuMAN, sponsored a series of three webinars among its members to conceptualize a new framework for mental health in the Philippines. This framework was recommended for adoption by the Philippine Council for Mental Health through WAPR as the NGO representative in the Council.Through WAPR’s advocacy, the Council adopted the revised Concept of Mental Health in the Philippines in the form of Resolution 2020-003 which has become a basic document in understanding mental health in the country. The resolution is in line with the provision in Chapter VI of the MH Law calling for a reorientation of mental health workers in the provision of mental health services especially in the community.
  • In 2022, WAPR commenced its Mental Health Hour in a radio program entitled Bago ang lahat, Mamamayan muna! which is aired every Tuesday at 5-6 in the afternoon. WAPR Board member, Corazon de Leon serves as the program anchor and serves to educate the public about mental health. Resource persons are drawn from WAPR, NCMH and the pool of mental health professionals in the country.

Research – WAPR received a research grant in July 2018 to come up with the national mental health research agenda. WAPR Philippines undertook the Study “Defining the Research Agenda of the Philippines with the grant of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development. This resulted in the National Mental Health Research Agenda which identified the priorities for research in the Mental Health field to be supported by the Council.

  • WAPR Phil, joined the Steering Committee organized by the London Academy of Science to address the urgent need for Research on “Social Determinants of Global Mental Health” in Oct. 2019.Subsequently, WAPR embarked on the “Study on the Social Determinants to Mental Health,” with PCHRD support. The study team was led by Ms Lucy Lazo, current WAPR president. The study has been completed and this is envisioned to stimulate further research activity on mental health that will influence policies, service provision and capacity building programs.
  • WAPR Phil is participating actively in the NCMH initiative to establishing the National Mental Health Information System which was launched in 2022. The MHIS will cover mental health information relevant to policy making, research and patient management and it is designed to be a digitalize information system.

Direct Assistance/Service
WAPR assists individuals and communities to promote mental health

  • WAPR Philippines, in cooperation with the GAWA Foundation whose President is a member of the WAPR Board, has undertaken a project: “Care Farming for MH” which provides assistance to community groups to undertake a livelihood project to generate income and reduce Covid- induced socio-economic stress.WAPR has previously engaged in Care Farming for individuals who have recovered and are in the process of recovery from mental disorders. This is to help them reintegrate as self-sustaining and productive members of the community. In the same vein, WAPR Board members conduct training and livelihood programs to alleviate the economic challenges of households and communities and diminish their psychosocial tensions as they seek to meet the demands of day to day living. WAPR Phil, has initiated and sustained its assistance to the development of support groups for families of those who have suffered from mental health conditions, and psychosocial problems.Sally Bongalonta, community development worker and a member of the WAPR Board of Directors has organized the Alliance of Families for Mental Health, Inc. and this alliance has initially drawn technical support from WAPR Phil for its program that operationalizes the WAPR mission of improving the life of those patients and their families who suffer from mental health conditions.
  • WAPR-Phil, has led the provision of psychosocial programs following disasters, one of its pioneering contributions. WAPR Phil officers led The Mental Health Task Force in Disaster Management {MHTFDM) created by Pres. Corazon C. Aquino in 1990. At the time, a psychosocial intervention program in response to disasters was not included in the over-all disaster management program of the Philippines. The concept and program of activities developed by the MHTFDM served as the bases for the organization and development by relevant government agencies of a psychosocial intervention program in response to disasters.The WAPR-Phil- UP Manila publication entitled “From Victims to Survivors- a psychosocial intervention program in disasters” documented the work of the MHTFDM. It has served as an indispensable reference to the National Disaster Coordinating Council’s overall disaster management program.
  • WAPR Philippines continues to undertake disaster mental health program up to the present. And in doing so, the disaster mental health program has become the gateway to organize mental health clinics as part of general health care at the primary level.

Participation in governance and leadership for Mental Health

Following the finalization of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the MH Law which mandated the creation and organization of a Philippine Council for Mental Health, (PCMH) WAPR Phil was elected to represent civil society or the NGO sector. The PCMH is a policy advisory body that is meant to harmonize various mental health policies from national government agencies. WAPR Philippines participated in the design and development of the Mental Health Strategic Plan in the Philippines 2019 2023, to implement the Philippine Mental Health Law.

WAPR Philippines has participated in the work to define the “Challenges and priorities for Global Mental Health in the Sustainable Development Goals Era” sponsored by the London Academy of Science but participated by leading MH professionals from low- and middle-income countries. (June 2018 Report)

Participation in Global and National Mental Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs and Activities.

  • The WAPR Founding President had been active in the global affairs of WAPR holding various positions. She became President of WAPR (Global) in 2009-2012. Consequently, WAPR Phil and its officers, and members have participated as lecturers in various World Congresses organized by the Association in several countries.
  • WAPR Philippines had co-sponsored with the Philippine Psychiatric Association, the organization of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Manila in 2011 with President Benigno Aquino Jr. as Keynote Speaker. It had drawn 600 participants from across Asia and nationwide.
  • Since WAPR has a consultative status with the World Health Organization, she has sat in various WHO programs both at Headquarters in Geneva and the Regional offices of the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. As such she has participated in the provision of policies and programs especially relevant to the Philippines. Among these are:
    • The United Nations Inter-Agency Steering Committee (UN IASC) on the design and development of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) in Emergencies
    • The WHO Mental Health Action Program (MHGap design and development of an intervention guide to upscale the capacity in mental health care for existing health workers in low- and middle-income countries.
    • Both the MHPSS and the MHGap programs have been implemented in the Philippines.

Partnership

WAPR Philippines has also partnered and sustained its involvement in the community mental health programs of several local government units in its program of “Reaching the Unreached: Integrating Mental and Psychosocial Health acre in the general health care delivery system and community development. These are:

  • Regional Health Office Reg 4A Inter Local Health Zone…municipalities of Infanta, Real, General Nakar and Panukulan (Polilio Is ), Quezon Province
  • City Health Office, Naga City and 3 neighboring municipalities San Fernando, Province of Camarines Sur
  • City Health Office, Cagayan de Oro City
  • Diocese of Iligan Social Action Center, Iligan City Lanao del Sur
  • Municipalities of Marabut, Sta Rita and Basey, Province of Western Samar
  • Municipalities of Estancia and Carles, Iloilo Province

WAPR Phil has partnered with other organizations in the pursuit of its programs listed above, capacity building, research advocacy networking globally and nationally, etc.

    • Commission on Human Rights
    • Christen Blinden Mission
    • UP PGH Dept of Psychiatry
    • UP Manila National Telehealth Center
    • Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
    • National Center for Mental Health – logo in the Internet
    • Department of Health Disease Prevention and Control Bureau
    • Academy of Hope, One Algon Place Foundation
    • Human Rights Advocacy Network for MH (HUMAN) and within these are other non-government NGOs and professional organizations (POs0

WAPR resource support is generated from sponsors of its annual conferences, membership fees, donor support, and grants for its research and training programs.