Profile and Evaluation of Participants in the Mental Health Program in Northern Samar: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the profiles of participant-implementers and participant-clientele in the Mental Health Program in Northern Samar. The participant-implementers consisted of mental health nurses, municipal health officers, and barangay health workers who provided mental health services across the province. The participant-clientele were recipients of health and wellness activities, psychological first aid, and other forms of support offered by the program. The research utilized a descriptive research design, encompassing all 24 municipalities of Northern Samar. The key focus of the study was on four components of the mental health program: Wellness of Daily Living, Extreme Life Experiences, Mental, Neurological Disorders, and Substance Abuse and other forms of addiction. Findings regarding the profile of participant-implementers indicated that mental health nurses were generally young adults, possessing appropriate degrees, with at least five years of service, earning a monthly income ranging from 20,000 to 29,000, and having attended at least five seminars and trainings. Municipal health officers, on the other hand, were adults with appropriate degrees, five years of service, earning between 60,000 to 79,000 monthly, and attending 5 to 20 seminars and trainings. Barangay health workers were adult participants who attained a secondary level of education, earned below 10,000 monthly, and attended at least five seminars and trainings. Regarding the evaluation of the Mental Health Program, the participants' overall perception indicated that the program was "moderately implemented" in terms of context, input, and process evaluation. Comparing the assessments between the participant-implementers and participant-clientele, there was no significant difference in their evaluations concerning the context, input, process, and output of the program based on various demographic factors such as age, educational attainment, length of service, monthly income, and seminars attended. However, there was a notable difference between the mean assessment of implementers and service users regarding the management of extreme life experiences. Moreover, the study revealed a significant difference in the assessment of the Mental-Neurological-Substance Use Disorder program between the implementers and careers of service users. These findings are crucial for the proposed enhancement of the Mental Health Program in Northern Samar. By understanding the profiles of participants and evaluating the program's implementation, authorities can make informed decisions to improve mental health services in the region. Future research may focus on addressing the differences identified in the evaluation to enhance the program's effectiveness and impact on the community's mental well-being.