Ateneo Psychology Students train SK Leaders on Mental Health First Aid

Mental illness is the 3rd most common disabilities in the Philippines. Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of mental health professionals with only two(2) per 100,000 Filipinos. The Department of Health has recognized this and has advocated the use of mental health interventions such as peer support. In support of this, Psychology students who enrolled in the Psychological Interventions class were able to train Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders on Mental Health First Aid last July 19, 2024. The training was done in partnership with Quezon City Health Department, SK District 5 leaders with support from the USAID Renewhealth project.

The workshop was part of the service-learning project of the Psychology Interventions in Diverse Settings Class where students learned how to do screening and facilitate community-based mental health interventions. Says Dr. Gina Hechanova who handled the class, “Prevention and peer support can go a long way in saving lives. Training our undergraduates to deliver basic mental health services is important to fill the gaps in access to treatment.”

As part of service learning, some students created training videos on Depression and Anxiety, Mental Health First Aid, Empathic Listening and Suicide Prevention. These videos were used to train SK leaders on mental health literacy, mental health first aid and suicide protocols. Doc Gina also shared the Lusog Isip Online website that was created by the USAID Renewhealth partnership in partnership with DOH and DepEd.

SK District chair Xyrone Pelayo shared “Nagpapasalamat kami sa workshop na ito. Mahalaga na matutong magpalaya ng emosyon sa amamagitan ng empatiyang pakikinig sa kapwa. “

Frodo Uranza, Sanggunian SOSS Representative SY 2023 - 2024, stated that, "The activity is a perfect encapsulation of what the department and university, aims to form and hone its students to be: proficient and socially aware individuals, applying their learnings and skills as they go where there is more need, to enact transformative, impactful change."