PFAI providers lead relevant approach to tackle quarantine mental health challenges
Psychosocial First Aid Intervention (PFAI) providers will develop a virtual town hall to address anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges among clients being held at the different quarantine areas in the city.
Ms. Karrina Mae Non, a public-school nurse recounted her adversity when she was compelled to undergo a 14-day quarantine after attending the National School Press Conference (NSPC). Being weeks apart from love ones, cut off from work and daily routine, and confined to a single room, were arduous to Ms. Non, who is in fact a trained PFAI. Their only visitors are health-care workers wearing head-to-toe protective gear to check whether they are compliant.
“At present, some in the quarantine suffer from stress, depression, boredom and in need of psychological help”, CDRMMC Officer Cyrus Jose J. Urbano said in an interview.
In the coming days, Ms. Non and her fellow PFAI providers will become a listening ear. According to her, they will be employing relevant approach depending on the client’s need. Daily guidance and support for dealing with the stressors like one-on-one and group exercises, therapies, activities and exercises with the aim of reducing the anxiety and depression will be accorded to the clients. For those with severe cases, they will be referred to the psychiatric specialist.
In one of the meetings, Bulig Balik Koronadal Ad Hoc Team leader Mr. Elric Batilaran shared on the importance of providing spiritual intervention as an important dimension of human well-being. Also, the Incident Management Team (IMT) is planning to connect with some spiritual counselors like ministers and pastors with the faith that only God has the ultimate power to create harmony between physical, psychological and social dimensions.
On the other hand, reading materials like books, magazine and bibles will be provided in the quarantine areas to enhance the readers mental and spiritual health, to help stave off boredom and stay engaged.
With the said project, the city government hopes to help mitigate some of the negative mental health effects of quarantine and help avert its detrimental effect to mental well-being.