GOVPH

Last February 18, 2019 at the Catalino Acosta Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center - Mental Health Team in cooperation with Chain of United MillenialS (CHUMS) initiated a Psychological Processing program that aims to normalize and change mental health conversations with peers and trusted adults as early as possible. The whole-day event provided an opportunity for students to discover mental health that boosts what is already being done in their school and provides a fun, innovative and really a positive way of destigmatizing mental health. It included group activities of having deeper bonds among classmates, about one another and developing a sense of empathy for each other. Small group interactions on coping skills and exercises were also incorporated which lets them regulate their emotions. Moreover, the school’s alumni members Batch 1993 and 2002 were invited to have real talk sessions to share personal and professional insights. Through these, students are not just able to survive, but thrive and will benefit as they grow up to be responsible citizens.

The mental health team will continue its plan to be engaged in schools to empower more students early in their lives not to feel ashamed and to have an incredibly good mental health. It also hopes to spread its services to other sectors to have a destigmatized community that really enables each other to be the very best and authentic selves.