The Department of Health estimated about 3.6 million Filipinos facing mental health issues during the pandemic including depression and mood disorders. That is why one’s knowledge in responding to the onsets of mental health problems could save other people’s lives.
To help curb increasing cases, the faculty staff and members of CITE underwent an awareness seminar on “Mental Health First Aid on November 21, 2023. The seminar enabled the participants to become effective in carrying out their support roles in and out of the school or whenever the need arises and manage a crisis if it comes or find ways to reach out to those who struggle.
The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Sherryl Muli-Abellanosa, a faculty member of Psychology Department from the University of San Carlos and a board member of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP).
Dr. Abellanosa discussed the salient provisions of the Republic Act 11036 or Mental Health Act, signs and symptoms of common mental health issues in the workplace, work-related risk factors for mental health issues, and psychological well-being practices to prevent or reduce mental health conditions.
Unmanaged stress can lead to a chronic condition making the body release more cortisol and affecting the quality of life, Dr. Abellanosa said. She also mentioned about anxiety as our reaction to stress and burnout being caused by chronic stress and unsuccessful management of stress.
The speaker ended the session with tips on mindfulness, handling communication, and promoting work-life balance.