THE free mental health consultation arranged by the Anxiety and Depression Support Group Baguio City in partnership with the Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) is shutting its doors to patients after only three months of operation.
The program is no longer accepting new patients after reportedly reaching the end of their initial budget, which was primarily sourced from a donation drive by United Kingdoms-based health worker Marlene Baoidang, with assistance from medical professionals in the city.
However, old clients will be able to return for maintenance and sourcing of medication while supplies last.
The program, which started on March 1, was able to serve nearly 300 indigent clients, almost triple of the original estimate of 100 reachable clients under the initial budget.
“For three months we have been providing free consultations, medicine and rescue to those seeking assistance but we are now out of funds to continue,” the initiative stated in a Facebook post.
While the program was held in cooperation with the CHSO, the professionals handling consultations and medication were all volunteers.
The consultations, intended to reach indigent clients, were on a registration basis through the program’s helpline number where potential clients were directed to provide a barangay certificate of indigency as well as a letter of referral from a barangay health center doctor, for their initial assessment and scheduling of consultation.
Some 287 indigent clients who registered from various parts of the Cordillera were assisted through the program.
