A new virtual series was launched by the Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, May 21 to support personnel's mental health amid the public health situation in the country.
“We have started this last year as we recognized the need for ample mental health support for our teachers and personnel,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
DepEd formally launched launch the “TAYO Naman!: Tulong, Alaga, Yakap, at Oras para sa mga Tagapagtaguyod ng Edukasyon” online series to provide proactive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) to its personnel and stakeholders.
“We look forward to reach more education frontliners this time and remind them that DepEd is ready to assist them during these trying times,” Briones said.
The theme of the first episode of TAYO Naman! Revolved around understanding one's well-being. It aimed to delve deeper into increasing self-awareness to thrive and excel in the new normal and understanding the psychology behind emotions.
The first episode was guided by a guest speaker, Dr. Jerry Jurisprudencia. It was followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) Director Ronilda Co along with DepEd personnel from Central Office as participants.
Spearheaded by the DepEd’s DRRMs, TAYO Naman! Was made possible in cooperation with the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development - Employee Welfare Division (BHROD-EWD).
DepEd said that TAYO Naman! is a continuation of its initiative of Wellness Check Series to “provide discussions on positive coping mechanisms to combat stress and other challenges to a person’s mental health” brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program, DepEd said, aims to develop a “resilient workforce that can withstand current and future crises and equip personnel with ways to protect their mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic” as it promotes the well-being of all DepEd personnel.
The program includes TAYO Naman! Kumustahan for selected participants, an Online In-depth Session Support Group every Wednesday after work hours from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and Live Webinar series discussing various topics about mental health every Friday at 8:30 to 10 a.m.
DepEd said that the program is made possible in collaboration with Globe Telecom, through their Global Filipino Teachers Program, MAGIS Creative Spaces, Philippine Mental Health Association, and Unilab Foundation.
TAYO Naman! is be aired every Friday at 8:30 a.m. through the DepEd Philippines Facebook Page and official Youtube Channel.