Mental Health Caravan in Schools Pushed to Boost Youth Well-being

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the alarming incidents of school violence, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) is pushing for a school caravan to address mental health problems among the youth. NCMH medical center chief Dr. Noel Reyes said the activity would focus on mental health promotion of students, but will also include parents and educators. “We are ready to conduct school tours to promote mental health awareness and improve the country’s mental health literacy,” Reyes said. Reyes underscored the importance of mental health awareness among students, including a safe and nurturing school environment, anti-bullying programs and responsible digital citizenship. “The caravan will also cover parent education and training,” he said. Under the Mental Health Act, the NCMH is mandated to strengthen community health programs. The caravan aims to promote youth wellness, break stigmas and teach stress management in schools. “Having a mental health problem is seen as a sign of weakness that brings shame to the person. That should not be the case. We should remove that stigma. There is a need for intervention and number one is awareness,” Reyes said.