By Chito Chavez The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has stepped up its mental health campaign through the Directorate for Health Service (DHS) with the conduct of the first batch of in-service training for psychometricians. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (MANILA BULLETIN) BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said the training is geared towards preparing the agency cope up with the growing demand on psychological interventions for recruitment, personnel promotion and for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). He said the campaign aims to promote professional development and skills enhancement among mental health professionals in the jail bureau. Training participants are composed of 10 registered psychometricians from the National Headquarters and Regions 1, CALABARZON, V, VI, VII, X, XI, and the National Capital Region. Solda noted the four-month training includes testing of psychometrics, classroom discussions on rehabilitation and counseling psychology, immersion in jails and mental health institution, and case conferences. “The role of mental health professionals is very crucial in our profession because we are dealing with persons with very unique needs,” BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan S Iral said. Alongside with the administration of neuro-psychological examinations for jail officers, Iral said the training also caters to mental health concerns and interest of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). The BJMP’s Health Service Division Chief for Mental Health and Behavioral Science and the current training program head Dra. Irene Lim has commended the participants for completing the program and further encourage them to employ integrity in their psychological evaluation. “Knowledge and skills can be learned but integrity, positive attitude and good judgment should be innate to be an effective psychological evaluator,” Lim said. After the in-service training, the 10 graduates will now officially be deputized to administer neuro-psychological examinations to applicants and candidates for promotion within their respective regions. At present, the BJMP has 21 functioning psychologist and 2 psychiatrist processing more than the quota of jail officer applicants and promotion of thousands of BJMP personnel. “With the addition of psychometricians on the list of our mental health professionals, we are optimistic that the recruitment and promotional processing will be accommodated on time”, Jail Senior Superintendent Arthur Lorenzo, Director for Health Service emphasized. Iral also praised the initiative of the Directorate for Health Service and the training facilitators in its commitment and efforts to improve its mental health services. The training is in accordance with the Mental Health Program of the BJMP pursuant to RA 11036 or the Mental Health Act of the Philippines.