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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 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 University’s month-long celebration 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 University Press, in collaboration with College of Humanities and Social Sciences, initiated the changing of Facebook Display Picture through a WMHD Facebook Frame created by Mr. Jao Vergara, CSU Press Director.
As to information dissemination, CHaSS likewise 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.
Prior to the webinar, the CarSU Happy Banyakers Club took initiatives in further promoting mental health awareness through Biker’s Advocacy Trail on Mental Health: Fun Ride for Body and Mind, MaPaKaTaWa Ka, SiKad Na!, a cycling activity in group kicked off at 5:30AM on October 17, 2020 in the CSU, Ampayon, Butuan City Campus.
To formally launch the Mental Health Awareness Month 2020, the Office of Human Resource Management Services and CHaSS organized the webinar via Zoom livestreamed on CSU–College of Humanities and Social Sciences Facebook Page on raising the University community’s awareness on Mental Health Act of 2018 and COVID-19 related health protocols participated by faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, the University President, formally opened the month-long celebration by welcoming the organizers and participants zeroing in on mental health promotion as one of the key practices to well-being. ‘Asking for help is critical in times of emotional distress,’ Dr. Penaso said.
Dr. Rolando N. Paluga, Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented the rationale of the activity by emphasizing public’s call for action as informed by the key facts and figures relative to mental health from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Meanwhile, Ruth E. Sanchez, MA, CHaSS Dean, introduced the two resource speakers of the webinar.
Atty. Geramer V. Durato, a lecturer of Social Work in the University, opened his talk by sharing stories related to mental health issues and awareness. He further presented key facts and figures from WHO as backdrop to the webinar’s rationale. The resource speaker went on further by presenting relevant mental health bills as prelude to signing into law of the Mental Health Act of 2018.
As outlined in his presentation, Atty. Durato emphasized on the need to integrate strategies of promoting mental health in educational institutions, the workplace, and in communities. The resource speaker then concluded that there is a need to raise public awareness on the necessity to develop and establish a comprehensive, integrated, effective, and efficient national mental health care system which is responsive to the psychological, neurologic, and psychosocial needs of the Filipino people.
Meanwhile, Mr. Florence Noelle R. Acosta, the University Nurse, presented COVID-19 related health protocols to the webinar’s participants. Mr. Acosta emphasized on raising public awareness as to health protocols provided by the WHO in preventing further spread of the COVID-19 virus. ‘We really have to take these health protocols seriously for ourselves and for public safety,’ Acosta added.
Caraga State University awarded the e-certificate of appreciation to the resource speakers, signed by the University President, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, and presented respectively to the webinar’s resource speakers after the open forum.
Closing the official launching of the University’s observance of Mental Health Month 2020, Dr. Armie Leila M. Mordeno, Vice President for Administration and Finance, delivered her closing message stressing the importance of work-life balance as part of advocating mental health awareness. Dr. Mordeno added her personal experiences and coping strategies addressed to the participants to drive home the webinar’s rationale.
Alongside the webinar’s technical and working committee working behind the scenes led by Sheila Badiang, RGC, Ms. Aquessa R. Piamonte graced the event as the webinar’s virtual host.
-CHaSS PIWO
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