TECHNOLOGY GENERATOR

University of the Philippines Manila
Anna Cristina A. Tuazon, Psy.D., CSCLP

THE PROBLEM

The Philippines is highly prone to both natural and human-induced disasters, ranking among the top five countries most frequently affected by disasters in 2016, and within the top ten for the number of people impacted, with 10,138 deaths and damages amounting to USD 16,069,392 (CRED, 2017). Each year, these disasters force many to seek refuge in evacuation centers, where large-scale catastrophes result in deaths, injuries, structural and economic losses, and severely affect survivors’ physical and psychological well-being. While mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) has become integral to government health services in these centers, there is a lack of standardized emergency mental health triage system, leading to inconsistent documentation and inadequate triage classifications. This gap hampers the accurate diagnosis and continued care for evacuees, complicating data collection for stakeholders. Elevated stress and trauma levels are common in disaster situations, which can hinder patients’ adherence to care and delay the management of urgent issues. Although emergency care is often provided, recovery is heavily influenced by evacuees’ mental health, yet many evacuation centers still lack adequate psychosocial services.

THE SOLUTION

The University of the Philippines Manila, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H), developed a mental health screening tool designed for camp management named Unahon Tool. It is a two-page form designed to assist in prioritizing and allocating resources and services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) who may exhibit signs of distress after a disaster. Since most survivors are temporarily housed in evacuation centers or camps, camp managers and health providers require a system to guide decisions on appropriate care or referrals. Implementing such a mental health triage system can potentially enhance the effectiveness of the country’s disaster risk reduction programs, facilitate survivor recovery, and increase the resilience of disaster-affected communities. It will benefit both survivors and camp personnel by ensuring more efficient allocation of mental health and psychosocial services and resources.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT STATUS

The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. The research team is currently initiating and strengthening partnerships with LGUs, government agencies, and NGOs that can use the Unahon tool.

CURRENT NEEDS

The technology owner is seeking strategic partnerships and adopters, particularly from government agencies, local government units, to leverage the tool in addressing public health challenges and enhancing disaster preparedness. Interested parties are encouraged to submit letters of intent to the contact details provided below.

CONTACT DETAILS

Technology Transfer and Business Development Office
University of the Philippines Manila
2/F UP Manila Main Building, Joaquin Gonzales Compound, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila
Phone: +632 5310 5731 Telefax: +632 5310 5727
Website: ttbdo.upm.edu.ph
upm-ttbdo@up.edu.ph