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During this coronavirus-blighted year when many people have experienced difficult days of isolation and fear, Caraga State University has hoped for better times. In observance of the Mental Health Awareness Month 2020 in October, the University has taken initiatives for better understanding of how to cope with these challenging times for the fluidity of transition to the 'new normal.'
A number of these initiatives have been taken. One hope in particular has been uppermost: that a message of hope and the call for collective action have been brought home by the University's various stakeholders. Along the backdrop of adaptability in the Philippine higher education landscape characterized by volatilities, uncertainties, complexities, and ambiguities, the University's #PadayonSaPaglambo and #BugsayPaMore seem to be right all along.
Caraga State University’s observance of Mental Health Awareness Month (World Mental Health Day 2020) anchored on PH Department of Health’s theme: "Mental Health for All: Unifying Voices for Greater Investment and Access" was pre-launched on October 10, 2020 on the day the world observed the World Mental Health Day 2020. As the major pre-launching activity informed by COVID-19 restrictions, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences initiated the Virtual Advocacy through WMHD Facebook Frame created by Mr. Jao Vergara, CSU Press Director.
As to information dissemination, CHaSS mobilized the advocacy of mental health awareness through a poster ushering the CSU community and stakeholders to respond to the call of raising public awareness in observance of World Mental Health Day 2020 celebration with hashtags: #investinmentalhealth, #mentalhealthforall, and #mentalhealthmatters.
The CarSU Happy Banyakers Club likewise took initiatives in further promoting mental health awareness through the Biker’s Advocacy Trail on Mental Health: Fun Ride for Body and Mind, MaPaKaTaWa Ka, Sikad Na!, a cycling activity in group held on October 17, 2020 kicked off at the CSU Main Gate, Ampayon, Butuan City. Alongside health benefits, the Club emphasized the social aspect of the group ride or trail enabling team members to value teamwork while maintaining positive mental health and general well-being.
The University’s month-long celebration was officially launched on October 19, 2020 through a Webinar on Mental Health Act Awareness and COVID-19 Related Health Protocols with Atty. Geramer V. Durato, MSW, MTSW and Mr. Florence Noelle R. Acosta, as resource speakers, respectively. The launching was spearheaded by CHaSS and Center for Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Office of Human Resource Management Services. In light with key facts and figures from World Health Organization as backdrop of the webinar’s rationale, emphases on the need to integrate strategies of promoting mental health in educational institutions and the collective action for safety practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 were outlined and presented.
To further step up the mental health awareness from the ground up, a Webinar on Managing Students' Virtual Fatigue in Times of the New Normal was organized by the CHaSS Student Organization on October 21, 2020 with Mr. Erwin C. Cudis, MPsych, MHRM as the resource speaker. The webinar aims to provide students coping mechanisms on how to manage fatigue and thrive virtually which further reduce the feeling of isolation and improve students’ character, sense of belongingness and mental health.
Meanwhile, the CSU Zoomba Team and participants had fun during the forty-five (45) minute Virtual Zumba on October 28, 2020 facilitated by Dr. Armie Leila M. Mordeno, Vice President for Administration and Finance, with the end goal of promoting physical fitness and of allowing positive and happy mindset through physical activity.
Plant Titas and Titos gathered for plant sale and barter during the Plant Bazaar on November 4, 2020, strictly following the safety protocols and guidelines for in-person activities provided by the University. Plant enthusiasts participated in the bidding of plants for sale and barter including virtual donors and buyers. For the beneficiary’s food drive and medical needs, proceeds of the activity would be given to AHON Community Care Center, a residential home for the abandoned, orphaned, abused and vulnerable children, located in Purok 1-A, Pigdaulan, Butuan City.
Spearheaded by the Guidance and Counseling Office, a Webinar Series on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the Time of Pandemic: For Faculty, Staff and Students were conducted in the following inclusive dates: October 22, 28, 29, 2020; Nov 4 & 5, 2020. The activity aims to explore lived experiences among CSU employees and students, recognizing the validity of these experiences with processes of context-based tele-counseling through Zoom breakout sessions.
‘We envision Caraga State University not only as an institution of high academic excellence but also as one where the faculty, staff, and students are emotionally-healthy, resilient, and well-adjusted to life’s vulnerabilities, uncertainties, complexities, and ambiguities,’ said Dr. Penaso during the culminating program via Zoom on November 25, 2020 which was livestreamed on CSU – College of Humanities and Social Sciences Facebook Page.
‘Mental health needs a great deal of attention. We need to face it and deal with it. Mental health promotion is the key,’ concluded the University President.
Speaking of mental health promotion, the organizers awarded winners for the Mental Health Awareness Advocacy video making contest. The contest selection committee chose five (5) advocacy videos to receive cash prizes, to wit: 1st Prize (PhP 6,000) – Mary Grace Traya and groupmates; 2nd Prize (PhP 4,000) – Daphne Arenza and groupmates; 3rd Prize (PhP 2,000) – John Albert Quijano. Meanwhile, the entries of Norjana Alonto and groupmates, and CSU Psychology Society received consolation prize and People’s Choice Award (PhP 1,000), respectively.
Dr. Rolando N. Paluga, Vice President for Academic Affairs, delivered the closing message and emphasized that advocacy on mental health awareness should be an institutional effort to be mobilized not just in October each year, but every day. ‘I hope that we all are mental health advocates ourselves,’ the VPAA remarked.
These month-long activities of the University in observance of World Mental Health Day 2020 were organized by the following: Center for Health and Wellness, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, CHaSS Student Organization, CSU Psychology Society, Guidance and Counseling Office, Office of Human Resource Management and Services, Office of the Dean of College of Agriculture and Agri-Industries, Office of the Curriculum and Instructional Development, Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, and CarSU Happy Banyakers Club.
Rethinking how educational institutions such as Caraga State University still stay relevant in this pandemic era, appropriate actions and response such as the creation of Task Force Jeremiah, a COVID-19 pandemic response management project of the University, and other initiatives such as institutionalizing the observance of World Mental Health Day every year, mark the beginning of another leap for social innovation of the University. And this is one other cause for celebrating and for unifying voices for greater investment and access relative to advocating Mental Health for All. #news-feature #CHaSS PIWO
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