Community-driven Mental Health Support Goes Online

Today, especially in a context of an ongoing global pandemic and an increasingly online context, the challenge of reaching out to members of the University community looms large. This is especially true for those who are in need of institutional support in their everyday effort of maintaining psychological wellness, as well as those who are seeking the counsel of trusted professionals in different areas of their university life. In response to these realities, different units of the Ateneo de Manila University, particularly the Loyola Schools and the Professional Schools, have continually attended to the mental health of its community.

The Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling (LS OGC) is one unit of the university that caters to the Loyola Schools community, offering services and programs that emphasize formation in the context of life skills and psychoeducation. One-on-one consultation and counselling sessions with school psychologists are kept accessible to students in an online setup. One can contact them through email, Facebook, and mobile—even beyond work hours on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, the office provides a 24/7 volunteer hotline for emergency situations.

OGC’s programs, talks, workshops and webinars that used to be held within the campus have now been adapted online. Topics range from wellness, effective communication, good habits, organizational skills, self-expression, to new modes of clinical approaches such as music therapy and animal assisted interventions. The office’s Facebook page is utilized to maintain an online presence, containing popular posts ranging from witty and insightful digital memes to self-reflection points from members of the LS community. In keeping student engagement strong and meaningful, the Office collaborates with student organizations such as the Student Council’s Commission on Mental Health.

Another unit in the University is the Professional Schools’ School of Medicine and Public Health’s Student Wellness Team, an initiative of the ASMPH Student Council whose main concern is the state of mental health within and beyond the ASMPH. Founded in 2018 by students advocating for mental health awareness, today it provides activities, services, and programs that connect students to mental health professionals. A recent program involves a partnership with a third-party mental wellness service provider which offers students 10 free online sessions. The session may be held through Video call, Voice call, or even Chat, giving students the choice of going with an arrangement they’re comfortable with. Similarly, for Mental Health Awareness month, the ASMPH Student Wellness Team partnered with other student councils across the country in celebrating mental health and wellness with other university students studying medicine.

On a regular basis, the ASMPH Student Wellness Team coordinates with medical students and doctors from different medical schools and institutions in providing mental health information through infographics and webinars. These media emphasize habitual self-care and resilience in the context of healthy rest, dealing with difficult feelings, and being more mindful of the oft-overlooked positive aspects of everyday living. Students can reach out directly to the team conveniently either through simply messaging their Facebook Page, or through traditional means such as correspondence through mobile.