DAVAO CITY—The City Government’s Mental Wellness Center for Homeless (MWCH) has continued to serve its clients who are facing mental health issues.
In 2024 the MWCH catered 297 outpatients and 24 admissions.
The center offers comprehensive inpatient care for homeless individuals and outpatient psychological services.
Dr. Luis Antonio Flores, manager of the MWCH says one of their missions is to promote the well-being of Dabawenyos. He says the center is open for those who want to avail of consultations.
The center is located at the Southern Philippine Medical Center- Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM) compound, or formerly known as the Davao Mental Hospital along C.M Recto Street, Davao City.
Flores said aside from the MCWH, all health centers in Davao City also offer mental health services.
“Dili lang necessary mulinya sila sa SPMC, pwede pud sa mga health centers nato kay equip naman mga doctors nato kay trained naman sila pinaagi sa Mental Health Gap Action Program,” Flores said.
(They can go to our health centers since our doctors are equip as they are trained trough the Mental Health Gap Action Program.)
Davao City was the first local government unit to have this kind of facility when it opened the P26-million building in 2022.
The City saw the need for a shelter that focuses on the special needs of psychotic vagrants or mentally challenged people wandering across the streets of the city.
This was evident during the COVID lockdown when city officials saw homeless, mentally challenged individuals still wandering in the streets despite the onslaught of the pandemic.
The rescued homeless individuals were temporarily housed at the Pasalubong Center as they cannot be mixed with those living in the other temporary shelters facilities of the city. This jumpstarted the idea of having a center which is now the MWCH.
Aside from serving the homeless, the MWCH also provides a refuge for residents facing mental health problems. It also addresses the stigma of mental health and raise awareness in the community. (PIA/RGA)
