On April 23, 2025, the Southern Leyte State University–Maasin City Campus (SLSU-MCC) opened its doors to a dialogue that many shy away from but every young soul needs — mental health. Held at the 3rd Floor Audio-Visual Room (AVR), the Mental Health Awareness Initiative: Empowering Students for a Healthier Future gathered third-year Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) students and second-year Social Work students for a day of learning, reflection, and empowerment.

The program began with a warm welcome from Ms. Madonna S. Jacobe, who captured the hearts of the audience with a simple yet profound message: "It's okay not to be okay." She emphasized that struggling does not equate to weakness; rather, it signifies strength — a shared humanity that binds everyone. "Through this symposium, we hope to break the stigma surrounding mental health and empower the youth,"  Ms. Jacobe said, setting a hopeful and supportive tone for the day.

Following the opening remarks, Dr. Lucia Estella Grace A. Abaa introduced the resource speaker, Mr. Gester Egido Revilla — a proud graduate of SLSU’s Social Work program and now a Youth Instructor at the Philippine Red Cross, Southern Leyte Chapter.

Mr. Revilla did not shy away from the pressing realities. With sincerity, he revealed that Maasin City ranks second in suicide cases in Southern Leyte, highlighting the urgent need for community interventions and awareness.

He began his talk by explaining the nature of stress and distress, moving into common emotional reactions to extreme stress, such as anxiety, constant watchfulness, guilt, sadness, anger, and withdrawal. Revilla’s discussion was grounded not only in theory but also in the authenticity of his personal experiences, resonating deeply with the students.

To foster engagement, Revilla led an activity where students wrote down their dreams, strengths, and weaknesses — a reflective exercise aimed at self-awareness and empowerment. A stress-level quiz followed, allowing students to assess their current emotional state. Revilla carefully interpreted the results, offering coping strategies tailored to different levels of stress.

As the program neared its end, the atmosphere was lighter but charged with new awareness. Ms. Renalain N. Bagtasus delivered the closing remarks, thanking everyone for their participation and highlighting the importance of taking the lessons to heart beyond the four walls of the AVR.

Mr. Revilla left the students with an inspiring quote that summed up the spirit of the entire initiative: "If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."

At a time when mental health is often overlooked, SLSU-MCC's initiative stands as a reminder that acknowledging one's struggles is not a defeat, but a courageous step toward a healthier, stronger future.

(via Lyka Joy Mayol| Pulse)