For the University of the Philippines (UP), mental health (MH) and psychosocial wellbeing is a top priority, now more so than ever. Since last year, Since last year, UP students and faculty have had to adjust to the abrupt shift to remote and online teaching and learning. At the same time, they have to confront the stress and anxiety of coping with a global health crisis, the pain of loss, and financial and economic worries, on top of the usual pressures of academic life in UP and other family and personal issues. Many UP students find themselves struggling alone, and sometimes the burden can be too much.
Fully aware of the critical need for mental health awareness and promotion, the UP System Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) and Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) initiated several mental health promotion programs in 2021. One such program is the “Sandigan, Sandalan Training and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health.” A component project under the “Sandigan, Sandalan” initiative is the Search for UP Student Mental Health Advocacy Projects, a UP System-wide search for innovative mental health promotion ideas from eligible student organizations and groups.
The project allows for the involvement of UP students in mental health promotion by featuring student-led programs that other groups can replicate. As of October, 10 entries for these programs have been submitted to the OSFA:
UP Behavioral Science Society October 2020 Mental
Health Month Celebration, BehSci x Mental Health: Information Campaign Series on Mental Health, Mars, Musta Ka Na?: Discussions on Mental Health Amidst the Pandemic
The October 2020 Mental Health Celebration by the UP Behavioral Science Society is a month-long project focusing on mental health awareness and promotion. As part of its year-long promotion of behavioral science concepts and their relevance and ubiquity in society, the organization launched a four-part information campaign series on mental health for MH month. It discussed body image issues and how Filipino values affect mental health, ultimately providing a more holistic view of mental health through the integration of psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The release included films that did not feed into the common misconceptions and social stigmas related to mental health. The series was launched with a Facebook post, “Debunking Mental Health Myths,” which aimed to present a more accurate picture of mental health and issues. The post reached 9,700 Facebook users, and 1,000 users liked, commented on, and shared the post.
UPLB DALUYONG: Bridging the Gaps of Isolation in these Trying Times
The objectives of the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Teknolohiyang Panlipunan-UP Los Baños (UPLB) has always included the promotion of camaraderie and the holistic development of its residents. However, with the ongoing pandemic, the organization has had to adjust its activities to maintain and strengthen the members’ relationships despite the geographical distance present at these times. Thankfully, online platforms have helped connect and create an environment that is easily accessible for the organization members. To replicate the feeling of physical classes, the organization has created a Discord server that mimics the org tambayan, the lobby of UPLB College of Human Ecology (CHE). The members of the organization have focused on being present in each other’s lives by incorporating games and activities that promote camaraderie and cooperation among the members through web-based platforms. Through these activities, the residents are provided with opportunities to bond and communicate. With the current setup faced by students, several adjustments have been made to ensure that the members feel secure and comfortable in the organization they belong to. Despite the lack of physical interaction, STP-UPLB has created a safe space for the members of its organization.
AKAP: Psychological First Aid Workshop
The UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility (UPMSSR) and the Asian Medical Students’ Association – Philippines (AMSA-Phil) are continuing and expanding the annual psychological first-aid (PFA) workshop, dubbed “AKAP: Psychological First Aid Workshop,” to transition into training trainers with PFA knowledge and skills, with a vision to eventually train enough participants to be able to establish a mental health helpline operated by AMSA-Phil members. Currently, AMSA-Phil is meeting with other stakeholders such as the Alliance of Philippine Medical Colleges to host an event tackling Disaster Medicine and MH. The two-day event hosted discussions on mental health, PFA, its role in MH care, and its applications last June 24 and 26. The event aimed to equip medical students with PFA skills to build resilience, support, and hope during the pandemic. The UPMSSR will also host a capacity-building workshop on improving safe spaces and organizational culture alongside this.
Halcyon Headlines
The UP Halcyon, a UP Visayas-org, relaunched “Halcyon Headlines.” It is a social media initiative supporting the PagAtiman donation drive, which aimed to provide food packs to pedicab drivers in Tacloban City. The relaunch of the initiative was done through social media platforms and with the help of partner organizations, namely, Positive Youth Development Network (PYDN) through the Young House Heroes Initiative (YHHI) Hingyap PH. “Halcyon Headlines” will primarily benefit people who are on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. One specific mental health topic or issue each month serves as the sole focus of the online publication. “Halcyon Headlines” will explain the common symptoms of academic burnout among students and feature personal testimonies on such experiences. “Halcyon Headlines” will also incorporate suggestions on how to help others deal with these issues and provide tips on how to counter psychological distress during and upon patient recovery.
Isip Mo Sagip Ko; Bookmark This: You Matter–Bookmark Donation Drive
The idea behind “Isip Mo, Sagip Ko” was pioneered by several members of Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumultho (PMB) of UP Visayas. The first phase of “Isip Mo, Sagip Ko” was organized in September 2018. “Isip Mo Sagip Ko” aims to eradicate the stigma and stereotyping of mental health in provinces; provide psychosocial support and an entertainment platform while promoting mental health awareness through games and interactive activities; and organize a series of webinars featuring mental health experts. It also encourages participants to share their experiences. The project continued until January 2019 for the second phase of its implementation.
In line with the PMB’s celebration of its 39th anniversary, a face-to-face version of “Bookmark This: You Matter Bookmark Donation Drive” was launched in partnership with the local government of Due and the Due Municipal Health Office. Resident PMB members showcased their creativity by designing bookmarks following the theme #MentalHealthMatters. These bookmarks were then published online for public consumption. “Bookmark This: You Matter” aims to inform communities about the importance of mental health in our daily lives, especially in a learning setup that can make us feel disconnected from one another. At the same time, it raises the call for accessible and functional mental health facilities for immediate communities.
Student Chapter Inc. ACcoMpany
The Association for Computing Machinery, UP Diliman Student Chapter, upholds as a core value the wellbeing of its constituents, which includes ensuring support for the members’ mental health. The organization’s initiative, “ACcoMpany,” aims to promote and support its members’ mental health journey with a holistic approach. “ACcoMpany” is so named as to make the members feel that the organization is standing by them and is here to support them throughout their journey. Activities range from teaching other members about their interests (e.g., teaching about financial literacy, photography, designing with Notion) to venting sessions where members have heartfelt talks about their troubles. “AClaiM” has an awarding ceremony at the end of each semester that recognizes members for their exceptional performance, both academic and extracurricular, and aims to give them a sense of self-fulfillment.
Tahanan: Tayo-tayo para sa Pamilyang Pilipino
The UP Diliman Family Life and Child Development Circle (FLCD Circle) Playdates started some time ago to promote the role of play in children’s development and wellbeing. The FLCD Circle shared activity and recipe guides, songs, and movies that the family can do and engage in as recreational activities to cope with the home quarantine. The organization takes on the effects of quarantine on the children’s mental health. It shows how to listen, communicate, and support them better as family members. Similar to the previous “Tahanan: Tayo-Tayo para sa Pamilyang Pilipino” discussions, the FLCD Circle, will launch a webinar for parents, teachers, social workers, and others working with and taking care of children. Through the webinar, the FLCD Circle strives to open the discussion on the complex topic of mental health, especially for children and families, and allow participants to be heard and raise questions to mental health professionals.
Mental Health Mondays–UP Diliman
In a global health crisis, mental health issues have drastically increased due to the lack of physical, emotional, and even spiritual connection among our peers. With this, the UP Diliman Philippine Association of Nutrition – Alpha Chapter (PAN-Alpha) was able to release at least nine infographic materials on different types of food that individuals can consume to help alleviate mental health issues. Hence, PAN-Alpha proudly presents “Mental Health Matters” with a “Mental Health Mondays” theme. This project promotes mental health issues specifically in connection with nutrition through nutritional psychiatry, a field that aims to develop comprehensive, cohesive, and scientifically rigorous evidence-based to support a shift in thinking around the role of diet and nutrition in mental health.
UP Mental Health Month
The UP Mental Health Month of the UP Diliman University Student Council, UP Buklod-Isip, UP PUGAD Sayk, BUKLOD CSSP, and COPE UP or UP Mental Health Month Team champions a series of projects and initiatives on mental health’s different aspects or facets. The past campaigns focused on bringing awareness to mental health, promoting ways to take care of students’ mental health, and encouraging discussions on mental health. Last year’s “UP Mental Health Month” put forward an MH campaign relevant to the times through social media postings and interactive events. Six initiatives and projects were lined up during last year’s campaign: ‘Bigay-Gabay,’ a guide on the accessible and available mental health resources and services; ‘Kaya ‘To, Kaya Mo,’ motivational posts that encouraged interactions from the audience; ‘Mars, Alam Mo Ba?’, a “pause and play project” that tackled issues and debunked myths on mental health concerning the online setting; ‘Usap Tayo?’, a webinar discussion on socio-political issues surrounding mental health; ‘Chillax,’ a series of mindfulness workshops; and ‘Gig N’ Take,’ the culminating event filled with performances from local bands and artists who advocate for mental health. This year’s campaign aims to respond to the more systematic aspects of mental health in the country, focusing on the individual and the political, cultural, and social structures concerning mental health. As the campaign expands its scope, it also aims to grow its target audience by catering to other UP campuses and other communities within the country.
Kaakbay: Psychological First Aid and the Importance of Mental Health Care during COVID-19
Focusing its efforts on alleviating the suffering of the UP community and considering that an individual’s wellbeing must include both physical and psychological health, the Diliman-based UP Red Cross Youth (UP RCY) launched “Kaakbay: a webinar on Psychological First Aid and the Importance of Mental Health Care during COVID-19” on October 24, 2020. “Kaakbay” was conceptualized when UP RCY offered a virtual learning opportunity open to all since the first-aid training it specializes in is traditionally done in a physical setting. A segment of the webinar, “Psychological First Aid Methods,” emphasizes the presence of innate coping mechanisms in each individual and how PFA is a mode of support for severe distress. The webinar’s themes of self-care and resilience are very much in line with the UP RCY’s mission and vision as an organization. Their experience in Kaakbay has inspired the organization to grow as a psychosocial support system more eligible to serve others. With the three phases of training, integration, and implementation, the organization can actively contribute to the demand for mental health support. To supplement the training from Pahinungod, RCY will reach out to other experts for consultation on mental health information and methods for psychological first aid.
Sandigan at Sandalan para sa UP
UP students and student organizations are helping promote mental health awareness and de-stigmatize mental health needs through empathy, understanding, creativity, and resourcefulness. This is the core of the UP System’s “Sandigan, Sandalan Training, and Advocacy Programs for Mental Health” Search for UP Student Mental Health Advocacy Projects.
To view the series of video presentation of Mental Health Projects kindly click on this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/WvqlhWAQZgU
#UPCares # UPMentalHealthMonth #SandiganSandalan #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthPromotion #Selflove #UPFight #StaySafeandHealthy
