NCPP Staff were honored to attend this historic event. See the rest of the photos on our Facebook page.
From Left to Right: Philippine Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon; Dr. Jei Africa, Manager of the Office of Diversity & Equity of San Mateo County; Stephen Kaplan, Director of San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
From the San Francisco Philippine Embassy website: LINK
CONSUL GENERAL PAYNOR TO SIGN LANDMARK DOCUMENT WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
On August 13, 2013, Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Stephen Kaplan, Director of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services of San Mateo County at the North County Clinic, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, 375 89th Street, Daly City, CA 94015 at 4:00 pm.
Through the MOU, both offices agreed to work together towards the larger goal of providing support to Filipino nationals who require services for mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
According to the 2010 US Census, Filipinos have a significant presence in San Mateo County, making up approximately 10% of the total County population.
In a presentation recently made by Dr. Jei Africa, the following statistics point to the need for having a blueprint for providing comfort, promoting recovery, and helping to reduce distress related to stressful situations, trauma and crisis:
- 1 in 4 individuals in the US develop severe mental illness in their lifetime
- 17% of Asian Americans with psychological problems sought help, with 6% of them who went to get mental health treatment from a provider (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2001)
- Filipino American adolescents have one of the highest rates of suicide ideation and attempts in the US (President’s Advisory Commission on AAPI 2001)
- Filipino Americans have higher depression rate than other Asian American females (Kim & Chun, 1993)
- Filipino Americans have higher depression rates than the general US population (David & Okazaki, 2006)
- Filipino Americans seek mental health services at much lower rate even when compared to other Asian American groups (Gong, Gage & Tacata, 2003)
- 75% of Filipino Americans never used any type of mental health service
- There are 87% white vs. 1.7% Asian psychologists
About the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is one of six (6) Philippine Consulates General in the US. Its jurisdiction covers Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington State and Wyoming.
Just four (4) years into the introduction of the Mental Health First Aid in the US, the Consulate General was fortunate that majority of its personnel were trained and certified as Mental First Aiders in 2011. This was accomplished thanks in large part to the San Mateo County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS).
With a personnel-client ratio of 1:21,239, the incidence of stress is high and the Mental Health First Aid course instilled among the Consulate General staff the importance of taking care of one’s over-all health and well-being. Moreover, the course equipped the employees with the necessary skills to deal with persons suffering from mental health issues.
About the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services of San Mateo County
San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) provides a continuum of services for children, youth, families, adults and older adults for the prevention, early intervention and treatment of serious mental illness and/or substance use conditions. BHRS is committed to supporting treatment of the whole person to achieve wellness and recovery, and promoting the physical and behavioral health of individuals, families and communities it serves.
Culturally competent, integrated services are provided by mental health clinicians, alcohol and drug counselors, peers, family partners and others, through a network of County and private agency providers and partners throughout the community.
