More than 2,500 clients in crisis were provided with psychosocial assistance through the Wireless Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (WiSupport) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD Assistant Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, said on Monday (April 14) the WiSupport was developed and launched in 2021 to address the growing mental health challenges at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“WiSupport is a psychosocial support program of DSWD designed to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of our kababayans. From the very start, this program was pursued to provide those in need access to platforms where they can express their mental health concerns and seek psychosocial support,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

This program initially provided online psychosocial support through the DSWD website, email, Facebook page, and through hotlines in accordance with the needs of the public during the pandemic. The DSWD later made the WiSupport accessible in other online platforms after the pandemic.

From 2023, the DSWD strategically established WiSupport stations across the agency’s Central Office as well as field offices and began serving Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) clients referred by social workers.

Assistant Secretary Dumlao said this intervention aligns with the DSWD’s commitment to give holistic services to clients in crisis, who may also be under extreme stress and experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.

“Yung AICS kasi diba, from the term of the program itself, ito po yung program natin para sa mga kababayan natin na dumadaan sa krisis. So what we want is beyond material assistance, ready din tayo to provide psychosocial aid. Overall kasi, hindi lang naman yung financial capacity ang apektado pag in crisis ang isang tao. Their emotional and mental well-being may also take the toll,” the DSWD spokesperson explained.

The WiSupport team is trained to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA). As PFA providers, they provide emotional support to clients in distress, help them feel safe and calm, assess their needs and concerns, and bridge their access to information, services and social support.

The team is available from Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and can be accessed at WiSupport.dswd.gov.ph or through the official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DSWDWiSUPPORT/. The public may also avail the WiSupport services via sending an email at WiSupport@dswd.gov.ph or reach out through 0918-9122-813.

Aside from the psychosocial first aid, the DSWD also has a referral network to address the other needs of the individual in crisis based on the assessment of the WiSupport team.

“Another critical component of the program is that we may also refer the client to other institutions with psychiatric services or institutions offering services according to the client’s need,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

Likewise, the program serves as a hotline for emergency cases that require immediate attention. Such cases may be referred to psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health institutions who are part of the referral network that includes the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The other partner-agencies for the WiSupport program are the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Philippine Red Cross, Psychological Association of the Philippines, and the United Registered Social Workers. (LSJ)