Written by: Dr. Donnavila Marie P. Herbster
A university runs on its people. Faculty teach, mentor and often become the first person a struggling student turns to. Non-teaching staff keep offices, laboratories, libraries and grounds running. Their work is demanding, and its pressures can affect their own well-being. A university that cares for its students must also care for those who serve them.
In 2025, the University of Baguio (UB) took deliberate steps to make sure its employees have access to mental health support. These steps include a formal partnership with a professional counseling service, wellness programs led by the Human Resource Management Center (HRMC), training that helps faculty understand mental health, and active membership in Baguio City’s mental health network. Together, these measures show a university that treats employee mental health as part of a healthy, decent workplace.
Professional counseling for employees
The most direct form of support is access to professional help. In 2025, UB formalized a partnership with Bustillo Professional Counseling Services, led by Dr. Ava Angeli Bustillo, a registered guidance counselor, through a Memorandum of Understanding. As UB reported on November 6, 2025, the partnership gives both students and employees a dedicated channel to a range of counseling services. These services address academic pressures, personal struggles and workplace stress, with tailored support and resilience-building measures for those who need specialized counseling.
Wellness programs for non-teaching staff. On February 14, 2025, the HRMC held “Love and Light: Balancing Health and Wellness in the Workplace,” a seminar for non-teaching staff on healthy work-life balance. It was organized in two sessions that addressed the whole person.
Equipping faculty with mental health awareness
Faculty benefit when they understand mental health, both for their students and for themselves. On August 6, 2025, the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM) devoted its IGNITE in-service training to mental health and inclusion. Facilitator Ms. Shirley Grace Dicman of PowerVision EAP Inc., a counselor, psychotherapist, wellness coach and registered nurse, guided faculty through mental health awareness, empathy and practical wellness and resilience strategies. She also explained how to connect people with accessible mental health services. The session left faculty better informed about mental health and the help available on and off campus.
Connected to the city’s mental health network
Membership in the Baguio City Mental Health Council
UB is a member of the Baguio City Mental Health Council, convened by the Baguio City Government. On August 15, 2025, UB-CCSD took part in the council’s meeting at RNJ Hotel, Quezon Hill, with mental health professionals and workers from local government, NGOs, the private sector and faith-based groups. They reviewed current mental health concerns, assessed existing programs and services, and planned community-based strategies. This membership keeps UB connected to the services and referral options available across the city.
Shaping workplace mental health policy
On September 5, 2025, UB participated in a Workshop on Crafting Workplace Mental Health Policies organized by the Mental Health and Wellness Unit of the Baguio City Health Services Office. Human resource personnel from workplaces across the city attended. The workshop covered why workplace mental health matters, how it affects people at work and how to build a supportive environment. It gave UB a foundation for strengthening its own workplace mental health policies.
In reporting on these partnerships, UB-CCSD also acknowledged the work that remains: developing mental health programs that are culturally sensitive, well-resourced and inclusive of the community.
At a glance
| Initiative (2025) | Date | Led by / partner | Staff reached | Type of support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Love and Light” workplace wellness seminar | Feb 14, 2025 | HRMC with Layad ya Ikigai Life Coaching Services and School of Natural Sciences | Non-teaching staff | Mental, spiritual and physical wellness; burnout prevention |
| Mandatory 8-hour safety and health orientation (4th batch) | Apr 26, 2025 | Risk Management Office – OSHCOM | 43 employees | Workplace health regulations; safety culture |
| IGNITE in-service training on mental health and inclusion | Aug 6, 2025 | SIHTM with PowerVision EAP Inc. | SIHTM faculty | Mental health awareness, empathy, wellness strategies, referral pathways |
| Baguio City Mental Health Council membership | Aug 15, 2025 meeting | UB-CCSD with Baguio City Government | UB community | City-wide mental health network and services |
| Workshop on Crafting Workplace Mental Health Policies | Sep 5, 2025 | Baguio City Health Services Office – Mental Health and Wellness Unit | UB representatives | Workplace mental health policy development |
| Counseling partnership (MOU) with Bustillo Professional Counseling Services | Reported Nov 6, 2025 | UB, CCSD; Dr. Ava Angeli Bustillo, RGC | Employees and students | Professional counseling, including for workplace stress; CCSD referrals |
Building on 2025
By the end of 2025, UB employees had professional counseling through the University’s partnership with Bustillo Professional Counseling Services, coordinated by CCSD. They also had wellness programs from HRMC, mental health training for faculty and a University linked to the city’s mental health council and its policy work. These layers give staff several ways to look after their mental health and to get help when they need it.
The momentum has continued. On February 20, 2026, HRMC held “Mind Matters: GAD and the Modern Workplace” for 278 non-teaching employees. The seminar linked gender and development with mental health at work, and HRMC organized it in response to gaps in mental health awareness identified among staff. Going forward, UB can build on these steps by setting out its workplace mental health policy in writing, publicizing to all employees how to access confidential counseling and at what cost, and tracking how many staff use these services, so that every UBian employee knows that support is available.
Sources
- UB’s Collective Commitment to Mental Health: Empowering Academic Psychological Support (Nov 6, 2025)
- Love and Light: Balancing Health and Wellness in the Workplace (Feb 18, 2025)
- Strengthening Mental Health Support Through Partnerships: The University of Baguio’s Commitment (Oct 7, 2025)
- Inclusive Classrooms Start Here: SIHTM Faculty Champions Mental Health in Its In-Service Training
- Mandatory 8-Hr Safety and Health Orientation for UB Employees (4th Batch)
- UB Strengthens Inclusivity and Well-Being Through “Mind Matters: GAD and the Modern Workplace” Seminar (Mar 7, 2026)