抖阴探探鈥檚 contribution to and efforts in the advocacy of mental health in the Philippines

The 抖阴探探 has always taken very seriously the importance of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing鈥攏ow more than ever.

To this day, both the 抖阴探探 community and the entire country have been heavily affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All 抖阴探探 students and faculty members had to adjust to the sudden shift to remote and online teaching and learning, while also having to deal with the mental and emotional stress and anxiety of staying indoors while a global health crisis was taking place. They had to deal with the pain of loss, financial and economic worries, and the usual pressures of academic life in 抖阴探探 as well as other family and personal issues. Many 抖阴探探 students admit that the burden of struggling with all this alone has been too much for them.

The 抖阴探探 System Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPPA) and the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), the latter now the Office of Student Development Services (OSDS), saw how this gave way to the urgent need to spread both awareness and promotion of mental health. In response, these offices initiated several mental health programs in 2021. One notable program is the 鈥淪andigan, Sandalan Training and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health鈥�. One vital project under the 鈥淪andigan, Sandalan鈥� initiative is the 抖阴探探 Student Mental Health Advocacy Projects, which is a 抖阴探探 System-wide search for mental health promotion ideas given by or produced from eligible student organizations and groups within the 抖阴探探 community.

The project allows 抖阴探探 students to be fully involved in the promotion of mental health by featuring student-led programs that other people can replicate for themselves in their homes and communities. Here are examples of such programs that have been submitted to the OSDS:

Health Month Celebration: BehSci x Mental Health: Information Campaign Series on Mental Health; Mars, Musta Na?: Discussions on Mental Health Amidst the Pandemic

This is a month-long project/ celebration led by the 抖阴探探 Behavorial Science Society (抖阴探探 BSS). Kyle Ocampo, a representative of the 抖阴探探 BSS provided further explanation: 鈥淭he objective of this said event is to provide substantial information regarding the situation of one鈥檚 mental health in the remote setting. Moreover, it aims to provide insights on self-care and balancing productivity and rest.鈥�

The student organization launched a four-part information campaign series on mental health during Mental Health month as it aligned with their year-long promotion of behavioral science concepts and the relevance and prevalence of such concepts in society. This discussion included body image issues and how Filipino values affect mental health, providing a more holistic view of mental health through the integration of psychology, sociology, and anthropology. They also released films that debunked the common misconceptions and social stigmas related to mental health. The series was launched through a Facebook post, 鈥淒ebunking Mental Health Myths鈥�, with the intention of presenting a more accurate and factual idea towards mental health and the issues that stem from its misconceptions.

抖阴探探LB DALUYONG: Bridging the Gaps due to Isolation in these Trying Times

For the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Teknolohiyang Panlipunan 鈥� 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os (抖阴探探LB), their objective has always been about the promotion of camaraderie and the holistic development of its residents. However, the pandemic forced them to adjust their activities to help maintain and strengthen the members鈥� relationships despite the vast distance during these difficult times. The organization members were able to stay connected with each other through online platforms. The organization was able to replicate the feeling of being together in physical classes by creating a Discord server to offer an imitation of their org tambayan, the lobby of 抖阴探探LB College of Human Ecology (CHE). Using these web-based platforms created a safe space for the members of the organization, especially those that were deeply affected from the pandemic.

AKAP: Psychological First Aid Workshop

The 抖阴探探 Medical Students for Social Responsibility (抖阴探探MSSR) and the Asian Medical Students鈥� Association (AMSA-Phil) have continued their annual psychological first-aid (PFA) workshop, 鈥淎KAP: Psychological First Aid Workshop鈥�.

The idea for this event came from two people from the Asian Medical Students Association Philippines (AMSA Philippines), Dom Kalbit and Miko Buac. 鈥淚t all started when Dom and I thought of the lack of readily accessible psychological first aid training that works in the Philippine context for medical students,鈥� said Miko Buac. 鈥淭hink about it: Filipino students are going through a rough time adjusting in an online setup, worrying about the quality of training and combating their own personal demons. This is a community, by itself, which needs help in order to help others.鈥�

The goal of this workshop was to help train trainers with PFA knowledge and skills, and eventually train enough participants to be able to establish a mental health helpline operated by AMSA-Phil members. This two-day event hosted discussions, with topics varying from mental health, PFA, its role in MH care, and its application. This event aimed to equip medical students with PFA skills and to build resilience, support, and hope during the pandemic, as well as to improve safe spaces and to foster the organization鈥檚 l culture.

Halcyon Headlines

A 抖阴探探 Visayas organization, the 抖阴探探 Halcyon, relaunched their social media initiative, 鈥淗alcyon Headlines鈥�. Its goal was to provide food packs to pedicab drivers in Tacloban City through the PagAtiman donation drive. This relaunch initiative was made possible with the use of social media platforms as well with the help of partner organizations, namely, Positive Youth Development Network (PYDN) through the Young House Initiative (YNHI) Hingyap PH. 鈥淗alcyon Headlines鈥� can be accessed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Each month, this online publication will cover one specific mental health topic.

One popular topic was the common symptoms of academic burnout among students as seen from personal testimonies. 鈥淗alcyon Headlines鈥� also incorporated suggestions and advice for people on how to help others on these issues and how to counter psychological distress, including during the patient鈥檚 recovery.

鈥湺兑跆教� Halcyon has managed to maximize its social media presence and reach thousands of individuals online. A feat that serves as an opportunity to provide information and advocate mental health to such a large audience,鈥� said Athea Rose D. Yanuario, External Vice President of the organization.

Isip Mo Sagip Ko: Bookmark This: You Matter-Bookmark Donation Drive

鈥淚sip Mo, Sagip Ko鈥� was conceptualized by several members of Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumultho (PMB) of 抖阴探探 Visayas. First started in September 2018, 鈥淚sip Mp, Sagip Ko鈥� was intended to: eliminate harmful stigmas and stereotyping of mental health problems in the provinces; provide psychosocial support and an entertainment platform while promoting mental health awareness through games and interactive activities; organize a series of webinars featuring mental health experts; and lastly, encourage participants to share their experiences with each other. This project continued until January 2019 in time for the second phase of its implementation.

A face-to-face version of 鈥淏ookmark This: You Matter Bookmark Donation Drive鈥� was launched in line with the PMB鈥檚 celebration of its 39th anniversary. This event was also in partnership with the local government of Due and the Due Municipal Health Office. Resident PMB members were encouraged to showcase their talent and creativity by designing bookmarks with the theme, #MentalHEalthMatters. Once submitted, these bookmarks were then published online to be used by other people. 鈥淏ookmark This: You Matter鈥� aimed to inform Filipinos and their communities of the importance of mental health in our daily lives, especially during a time of long-distance learning that often makes us feel disconnected from one another. This also raises the call for more accessible and functional mental health facilities for immediate communities.

Read more about 抖阴探探’s Mental Health Programs with the articles below

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