THE Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) will ask the Department of Behavioral Sciences of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) to provide the services of a psychologist to attend to inmates after some of them experienced hysteria early this week.
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Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, PHO head, said they will provide logistical support and transportation if they send their personnel to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Genosolango said they have no personnel to handle the psychological problems of inmates but they will train their two personnel, Jun Salgado and Barbie Escario.
At least 12 inmates, mostly women, experienced seizures and violent fits last Monday and Tuesday which led jail officials to suspect they were “possessed” by evil spirits.
“Our impression is this is some form of hysterical reaction to some factors. It could be emotional, factors that they’re leaving their families behind being inside CPDRC,” Genosolango said.
Earlier, Rose Gonato, psychologist of the VSMMC, said the inmates showed signs of psychological stress.
One of them, who just gave birth, may have suffered post-partum stress or depression.
Marco Toral, jail consultant, said the inmates had calmed down. He said he was encouraging the women to participate in religious activities and engage in physical exercise like volleyball.
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