DOH won’t list ‘crazy’ government workers

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t expect the Department of Health (DOH) to rattle off lists of “mentally ill” government employees any time soon.

The DOH said a study they conducted in 2007, which showed a third of government employees are suffering from anxiety and depression, was not meant to pinpoint which government agencies have personnel with mental disorders.

The survey had 300 respondents from the National Capital Region.

The health agency said the study was “just a survey and not a clinical diagnosis of the people who were included” in the study.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita expressed alarm over the survey findings, saying the DOH should give concerned agencies a list of personnel who were found to be suffering from anxiety and depression.

He said the workers will only be relieved if their anxiety and depression seriously affect their work performance.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, however, the DOH said the survey only meant to “establish a mental health profile for the Philippines in preparation for a mental health program by the government,” and not a database for depressed and anxious employees.

The DOH study found that job security and money matters were main causes of depression and anxiety among government workers.

Dr. Constantin Della of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, clarified that just because government employees suffer from anxiety and depression does not mean they are automatically insane.

Describing government workers as “mentally ill,” Della said, gives these workers a negative stigma.

Della said anxieties and depressions are common to all types of life situations and jobs, not just in government. Report by Abner Mercado, ABS-CBN News.