The Mandaue City Government has rolled out a new initiative to support the mental well-being of law enforcement personnel. Regular mental health sessions will be facilitated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Office (SAMHSO).
SAMHSO Officer-in-Charge Niño Krisbayani Dargantes said the program aims to better understand the daily struggles of police, jail officers, and other uniformed personnel in the city.
“Through this, we can identify what our law enforcers are going through,” he said.
Once these concerns are identified, the city can introduce interventions, including stress management, emotional coping strategies, and other health support measures.
Dargantes stressed the importance of “humanizing” law enforcers. He noted that the public often expects them to remain tough and composed at all times.
“It’s unfair to assume they’re always strong. They’re human too,” he said, adding that unaddressed stress can affect how personnel interact with the community.
To strengthen the program, Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano ordered the hiring of additional psychometricians and assigned a psychologist to SAMHSO.
Dargantes said this reflects the mayor’s push to build a more resilient and mentally healthy city.
The program was launched with personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). For BJMP staff—many of whom are stationed far from their families—sessions will be held monthly.
The next batch of participants will include the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), making the program “bigger this time,” Dargantes said.
City Councilor Kevin Cabahug, chair of the Committee on Health, joined the launch and praised the initiative.
He said it highlights both the city government’s and Mayor Ouano’s commitment to health and well-being.
“This is the first program in Mandaue dedicated specifically to the mental health of law enforcers,” Cabahug said.
He added that being mentally fit is as important as physical fitness.
The program encourages personnel to conduct self-checks, assess their mental state, and adopt healthier ways of handling stress, especially given the heavy demands of their work.
Cabahug assured that the continued implementation of the program will help personnel better understand themselves and manage pressures on and off duty. (VCL)
