Provision of mental health services for peoplewith disabilities in the Philippines amid coronavirus outbreak

Abstract

The confirmed cases in the Philippines breached the 578, 381 mark, while global cases reached 114, 710, 514 as of March 01, 2021. As the COVID-19 escalates, it also heightens stress, depression, and anxiety to people with disabilities. COVID-19 also exacerbates healthcare inequalities, and people with disabilities experienced elevated healthcare difficulties as their health essentials are neglected during the emergency. Hence, this article calls on the need for the provision of mental health services for people with disabilities, and for the governments to have a rights-based disability lens in their policy decision-making relative to emergency health response and recovery health plans. More research is needed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 to the mental health conditions of people with disabilities and the health services they receive during the crisis and post-pandemic.