CAVITE CITY – The fear and anxiety experienced by some Filipinos amid recent reports on Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) are likely post-traumatic stress responses to the previous COVID-19 lockdowns, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.
During the observance of Mental Health Month in Cavite City, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the apprehension and anxiety linked to COVID-19 terms like “face mask,” “lockdown,” or “contact tracing” incite a similar response to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by soldiers who recently returned from war zones.
“Ang PTSD classic [mental diagnosis] po yan nakikita sa sundalo na nanggagaling sa gera… Punta ngayon tayo sa pandemic, lahat tayo nakalock down. Kaya tuwing sinasabi ang salitang face mask, lock down, contract tracing… We were all in a heightened state of panic during that pandemic,” he said.
(PTSD is a classic [mental diagnosis] that is seen in soldiers coming from wars… If we go to the pandemic, we were all locked down. That is why whenever terms like face mask, lock down, contact tracing are mentioned… We were all in a heightened state of panic during that pandemic.)
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined PTSD as the feeling of extreme fear during or after witnessing traumatic events.
PTSD often manifests as symptoms of stress and heightened anxiety over the possibility of re-experiencing particular events.
Domingo reassured that there are no outbreaks to worry about and that there are no impending lockdowns or a repeat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Meron tayong bilang [ng COVID-19, but] it’s only a very low 1%… Hindi mataas yun, sobrang baba noon ng ranggo. Kulelat si COVID-19 dun sa nakita nating surveillance [sa causes of ILI],” he said.
(We do have some cases [of COVID-19, but] it’s only a very low 1%… It’s not high, it’s such a low range. COVID-19 is at the bottom in terms of our surveillances [for causes of ILI].)
Domingo acknowledged that fears regarding a repeat of the lockdowns are valid and that the DOH is working hard to reassure the public through accurate data.
“We are saying that all the fear is correct, there’s nothing wrong with what you feel. If you feel anxiety, trabaho po natin to reassure and we will always do our best to reassure with our data, with our actions. Kung totoo pong magkakalock-down, una niyo pong maririnig yan mula sa Department of Health… Hindi po itatago ng DOH dahil tungkulin naming sabihin sa inyo kung meron mang bagong virus, bagong strain, or kung tumataas ang bilang at kailangan maalarma because public health requires public action,” he said.
(We are saying that all the fear is correct, there’s nothing wrong with what you feel. If you feel anxiety, it is our job to reassure and and we will always do our best to reassure with our data, with our actions. If it is true that there will be a lock-down, you will first hear it from the Department of Health… The DOH will not hide it because it is our job to inform you if there is a new virus, new strain, or sudden increase in numbers and need for alarm because public health requires public action.)
“Marami po tayong mga magulang ay kumikilos lamang dahil sa kanilang pagmamahal sa kanilang mga anak, at naiintindihan po natin yan. Di po mali na maging concerned. Ang DOH po ay magbibigay ng tamang impormasyon at kami po ay laging magko-communicate sa inyo kung meron nang kailangang gawin,” he added.
(We have a lot of parents who are moving out of love for their children and we understand that. There is nothing wrong with being concerned. The DOH will provide the proper information and we will always communicate with you if there’s something that needs to be done.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News
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