The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII offers psychosocial support through WiSUPPORT or the “Wireless Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Individuals and Families Affected by COVID-19 and other Crisis Situations”.

Virtually launched recently, WiSUPPORT covers pilot regions like Central Visayas, National Capital Region (NCR), and Caraga.

A social technology innovation, WiSUPPORT uses online platforms like electronic mail, web portal, DSWD WiServ, telephone, and mobile application to provide the public with easy access to various communication tools to talk with the DSWD WiSUPPORT service providers.

Learning and Development activities for service providers will also be conducted to ensure proper management of cases. For emergency cases needing immediate attention, clients will be referred to psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health institutions who are members of the referral network like the Department of Health (DOH) and National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Through the help of Mental Health AWhereness PH mapping, integrated with the WiSUPPORT platforms, clients and service providers may also find some agencies that are providing mental health services nearby.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista emphasized during the launching that the WiSUPPORT is one of the Department’s measures to ensure that the general state of mental well-being of the public is prioritized amid the pandemic.

“The constant worry and fear of being infected by the virus and economic concerns of providing for their families, coupled with family conflicts and disasters amid the pandemic have brought anxiety, mental, and emotional distress to a lot of people. Hence, as the lead agency in social protection, and as part of the DSWD’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan, the Department sought more accessible ways for the provision of psychosocial support to Filipinos affected by the pandemic,” said Secretary Bautista.

Among the target clientele of WiSUPPORT are Overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Distress, children in need of special protection (CNSP), senior citizens, women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDC), persons with disability (PWDs), family heads, and other needy adults (FHONA), and other individuals and families in distress.

Clients may access the services of WiSUPPORT through the following:

Hotline numbers: Smart – 0999-8499733 or Globe – 0945-7123718

Email: wisupport@dswd.gov.ph

Website: ekwentomo.dswd.gov.ph

Google Play Store application:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cudavasol.wisupport ###

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