With the thrust to look into health and well-being, aiming for SDG 3, advocacies on mental health awareness are put in place in various areas of the society. For the October mental health awareness week, the advocacy was directed towards the workplace. The University of Baguio, however, extended the mental health awareness endeavors towards the UBian students as well.
#LightUpBlueforMentalHealth last October 10, 2024, which was spearheaded by the Philippine Mental Health Association- Cordillera Chapter Inc., was supported by the different offices of the university, as well as the UBian students from all groups they represent. The collective effort went beyond boundaries of race, region, orientation, etc. to out rightly display the support of the university to the importance of mental health.
Apart from this endeavor, the university, through the initiative of the Center for Counseling and Student Development office facilitated recordings anchored on the theme: “It’s time to prioritize your Mental Health”. Topics such as self-care or mental health rights, were made specific for the different student populations such as the students from minority groups.
These recordings were launched every Tuesday, throughout the month of October and were made accessible to all the students. This way, they were able to listen to their chosen topic during their convenient time. As an added feature, short videos showcasing self-care and the importance of mental health to student life were also posted. These were crafted by the University of Baguio cultural exchange students from Japan, China, and Thailand. Through the videos, they shared their personal thoughts and practices related to mental health.
As can be observed, the unified advocacy of the UBian employees and students displayed how mental health and well-being are valued by the university. This way, a school environment where everyone can flourish is nurtured.
