The Office of Student Affairs (OSA), in collaboration with the National Mental Health Program, delivered the “Mental Health Awareness: A Lecture-Forum for Students and Personnel,” on April 28 and 29, 2025, in UP Mindanao. The series aimed to encourage open conversations, enhance mental health coping skills, and promote a healthier and more supportive environment for students and university personnel.
The session for students, named “Stronger Minds, Brighter Future: A Mental Health Awareness Initiative,” was held on April 28, 2025, at the Lorenzo Hall of the Administration Building. The well-attended lecture forum focused on understanding mental health conditions, recognizing symptoms of mental health issues, and practicing self-care to maintain good mental health.
The top photo shows resource person Christine Grace Fernandez at the student session at the Lorenzo Hall.
“Mental Health in the Workplace: What Needs To Change,” the session for personnel and auxiliary service providers (janitors, guards), was held on April 29, 2025, at the TTBDO TBI Coworking Space at Kalimudan Center. The discussions dwelled on mental health in the workplace, including strategies for coping with psychological stress at work, managing feelings of work burnout, and improving a person’s work-life balance.
The lecture forum series was conducted by professionals from the National Mental Health Program, led by Samsia Sandukan, MPA, a Registered Social Worker and OIC-Head of the Mental Health Cluster, and a Program Manager of the National Mental Health Program and Center.
She was supported by colleagues Christine Grace Fernandez, a Registered Psychometrician (RPm) and Certified Mental Health First Responder (CMHFP), and Chenely Kaye Braceros, RPm, and a Master of Psychology (MPsy).
The forum series was organized by the OSA Counseling and Testing Section led by Counseling Services Specialist Remigio Dimingo, and held in collaboration with the OSA Health Services Section, ANINAG Peer Facilitators, DHK-NSTP Classes, HRDO, and the DOH XI Mental Health Cluster.
Glimpses of the student session at the Lorenzo Hall
Glimpses of the student session at the Lorenzo Hall
