Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM) recently spearheaded a webinar to show support for student well-being and to advocate for mental health awareness in basic education. 

The webinar, with the theme “Strengthening Mental Health Wellness in Basic Education,” showcased Mapúa MCM’s commitment to ensure mental wellness among the students by showcasing its mental health programs and encouraging collaboration among parents, educators, and experts on the matter. 

The event provided a platform for educators, mental health experts, students and parents of incoming high school students to exchange insights and engage in discussions about mental health support systems in education.

Featured guests included keynote speaker Dr. Ritchelle S. Aresco, Medical Officer III and Head of the School Health Section at the Department of Education (DepEd) – Davao City Division; mental health expert Dr. Jason Triton D. Ligot, Member – Board of Trustees (Public Relations) of Philippine Mental Health Association; and licensed Psychometrician and Psychologist, Ms. Eman Claudette J. Eng, RPM, MPSY, RPSY; Coordinator, Center for Guidance and Counseling of Mapúa MCM. The event was made more interactive with the inclusion of Mapúa MCM students Joshua Lim and Kirby Coquilla in the panel discussion.

Mapúa MCM High School Principal Cesar Glenn A. Josio welcomed the participants in the webinar and encouraged everyone to take concrete steps towards mental wellness.

“I believe that mental health is no longer something we can talk about on the side. It is now part of the core of what we do. Mapúa MCM High School department is taking steps to ensure that we address this need. One of these is we started to embed social-emotional learning into our subjects which can promote positive mental health. This webinar is one more step in that direction,” Josio began.

“Supporting our learners’ mental wellness is not extra work, it is the work. It’s how we truly educate whether in school or at home,” the principal declared.

Dr. Aresco shared the commitment of DepEd in taking initiatives to implement school mental health programs to address the concern. DepEd-Davao City found that among the issues identified that affect the mental health of students are family-related issues, relationship issues, personal struggles, academic pressures and stress, bullying, peer pressure, identity crisis and poverty.

“No learner should suffer from mental health problems. No life should be wasted, not even one. Every child has the right to live, right to enjoy life, right to feel safe, supported, and should be physically and mentally well. Mental health of our learners is not only preventing mental illness but it is also about protecting their lives and a the end of the day, life matters most. This is where the Department of Education steps in ensuring that every learner is seen, heard and supported in all aspects. The school mental health program is the program that places our learners’ mental health as the center of their learning experience,” Dr. Aresco stated, emphasizing the vital component of integrating mental health into the curriculum.

Mapúa MCM’s Center for Guidance and Counselling highlighted its role in assisting and guiding students in self-evaluation, maintaining a balanced and healthy personality, achieving academic efficiency and enhancing fundamental life skills needed to be well-adjusted and highly functional persons.

“At the heart of our work is the belief that mental health is just as important as academic achievement and that a supportive school environment can make all the difference in a child’s development. That’s why we have designed a range of programs with a holistic approach that focused on prevention, wellness and sustained support,” Eng explained.

Some of the key initiatives include the services offered at Mapúa MCM Center for Guidance and Counselling which are Prevention and Wellness, Guidance and Counseling, Homeroom Guidance, Testing and Assessment, Evaluation, Individual Inventory, Career Guidance, and Orientation and Information.

From the perspective of a mental health expert, Dr. Ligot remarked that every individual has mental health needs and doing steps in taking care of our mental health is part of the holistic approach in living out a healthy lifestyle. The psychologist also advised the students and teachers to look out for signs that students exhibit when in mental distress.

“Generally speaking, tatlong bagay po iyong binabantayan when it comes to mental health. Una, any changes in terms of our thinking or thoughts. Pangalawa, changes in our feelings and emotions, and then pangatlo, changes in behavior,” Dr. Ligot remarked.
On the subject of how to address the mental health concerns or challenges faced by students and people in general, Dr. Ligot shared his thoughts about it.

“It is less about what we say or saying the right things. It’s more about listening to them and giving them the space to express their concerns, listening to them without judgment, and making sure that they feel heard and that their concerns are valid,” he said, adding that it is wise to link people to the appropriate service or resources to help them solve whatever challenges they’re facing at the moment.

Mapúa MCM encouraged a strong collaboration among stakeholders to help spread awareness about mental wellness.
“All of these programs and efforts will not be as effective if not within the collaborative effort between a family, the school, and the community at hand. So I hope we could all work together to foster a healthier environment for our children and for everyone,” Eng concluded.

Mapúa MCM is a private higher education institution, offering Junior and Senior High School programs, in Davao City. It is part of the Mapúa University system and a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies. It also offers programs in Engineering, Information Technology, Business, and Health Sciences. Mapúa MCM focuses on academic excellence, innovation, and the holistic development of its students through modern learning environments and industry-aligned curricula. 

Enrollment for SY 2025 – 2026 is currently ongoing for High School and College levels. Inquiries can be made to mcm.edu.ph/contact-us/.