During a focused group discussion conducted by the Department of Education- Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DepEd DRRMS), personnel health was the second most important concern of public school teachers after stress management and coping.
Recognizing how the challenges brought by the health crisis in the country take a toll on education workers, the DepEd has partnered with Globe through guided workshops which aim to equip teachers with skills and steps towards better mental health, emotional encouragement and overall well-being.
To look out for the well-being of teachers, DepEd and Globe will launch TAYO Naman! (Tulong, Alaga, Yakap at Oras para sa mga Tagapagtaguyod ng Edukasyon), a 14-part webinar series to be held every Friday beginning May 21 until Aug. 20.
TAYO Naman! is an an online Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) program for all education advocates, including teachers, non-teaching personnel, and parents.
The series of webinars aim to develop a resilient workforce that is able to withstand current and future crises; equip DepEd personnel with ways to protect their mental health in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic; and promote holistic well-being among all DepEd personnel.
“The purpose of the program is to provide support to teaching and non-teaching personnel through Tulong, Alaga, Yakap at Oras. The concept of 'nandito kami para sa inyo’ (we’re here for you),” said DepEd-DRMMS Director Ronilda Co.
Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, Co said, has “always communicated that DepEd cares for each and every one of its employees.”
The initiative is spearheaded by DepEd’s DRRMS and Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) Employee Welfare Division in partnership with Globe’s Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) Series on Psychosocial Support Services and MAGIS Creative Spaces.
The webinar series will focus on increasing self-awareness, understanding the psychology of emotions, dealing with grief and loss, promoting e-wellness and digital well-being, and healing from hurts and traumas.
Resilience through positive psychology, practicing mindfulness, strengthening family relationships, connecting and building healthy relationships with co-workers, providing empathy and support in the time of physical distancing, and nurturing spirituality will also be discussed.
The resource speakers will be professionals from the Philippine Mental Health Association and MAGIS Creative Spaces.
“We envision these programs to ultimately benefit students who will get better teaching quality from their teachers, as they venture into another school year within a pandemic,” said Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto.
Moreover, Globe also helps improve mental health in the country through its various programs such as Hope Bank Facebook Community which is a safe online space for everyone to openly express their feelings and thoughts about mental health through messages of hope for encouragement, strength, and inspiration.
It also partnered with NGF Mindstrong’s HOPELINE 2919 for free counseling or psychotherapy services for frontliners, Covid-19 patients and their relatives. NGF works with telehealth service integrator HealthNow to give the public more ways to reach the hotline.
The TAYO Naman! webinars will be held from 8:30 to 10:00 am and will be streamed live on DepED Philippines (https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfEducation.PH/); Deped DRRMS (https://www.facebook.com/DepEdDRRMS); and Globe Bridgecom (https://www.facebook.com/GlobeBridgeCom).