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Of all the issues discussed at the medical town hall on Wednesday, including preventative health care, veteran services and urgent care facilities, one of the most crucial topics brought up was mental health, according to event organizer Dr. Vince Akimoto. Trevan Atoigue, 16, “powerfully turned the tables on the adults who were focusing on health care finance and infrastructure,” Akimoto said. Atoigue stood before a panel of seasoned medical professionals and other island residents at the Tamuning Senior Citizen Center to give his testimony about the importance of addressing mental health and the lives affected by it. Akimoto said Atoigue, who also serves as vice speaker of the 35th Guam Youth Congress and is chairperson of its committee on education and youth affairs, pointed out that the Tamuning people are in the midst of a “silent mental health crisis” within their homes and schools. Atoigue said mental health is one of the leading causes of death for his generation, and it’s something the panel and Guam’s medical industry cannot ignore. He added that Guam Youth Congress representatives are “doing everything we can to fight for your right to equal care,” including making sure mental health is treated just as seriously as physical health. “We know that many students are struggling, whether it’s with stress, anxiety, depression, or just feeling overwhelmed,” Atoigue said. “You are not alone. We hear you, we see you, and we are working to make sure you get the support you deserve. Whether it’s through better access to counselors, more awareness in schools, or stronger laws that protect your well-being, we are pushing for change.” Other issues addressed by the panel, which included former medical administrator Alexander Duenas, AVTS CEO and founder Ben Servino, and veteran health services client Jonathan Savares, were non-emergency transportation service, the ongoing influenza outbreak, the threat of food shortages due to the federal government shutdown, and the immediate mental health impact of the Guam Department of Education’s double sessions on public school students in Tamuning. Duenas and Savares focused on advocating for preventative health care. They both encouraged residents to take routine check-ins with primary care physicians more seriously to detect issues before they become serious. “Going to the doctor makes health care cheaper,” Duenas said. “The most expensive component of health care is not going to the clinic, not paying your insurance premium, it is the hospital visit.” Savares reiterated what Speaker Frank Blas Jr. spoke about in a previous town hall, converting the Southern Region Community Health Center into an urgent care facility. “It’s like we built the rainbow, and we have this beautiful, multi-million-dollar facility, yet we cannot even service the people. It is literally a phone call away to move doctors down there,” Savares said. Savares added that the Department of Public Health and Social Services’ old building in Mangilao could also be converted to a similar care center and said Guam Community College already has plans to use the facility for medical student programs. The panel said the government needs to consider these initiatives and other possibilities to better serve and heal the people of Guam. “We will keep fighting to make sure every young person in Guam has the care, respect, and support they need to thrive,” Atoigue said.
