Las Piñas LGU launches mental health awareness program

The Las Piñas City government launched a mental and reproductive health awareness program with the theme “Kalungkutan ay Agapan, Kabataan ay Protektahan”.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said around 400 participants -- composed of high school and senior high school students, out of school youths, and the Sangguniang Kabataan -- joined the program that was held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Verdant Covered Court in Barangay Pamplona 3.

Aguilar said Vice Mayor April Aguilar and Alelee Andanar participated in the kick off of the city government’s mental health awareness drive.

She said the “Mental Health Awareness Program” was organized by the City Health Office (CHO) under the supervision of Dra. Julie Gonzales to build community resilience in attending to mental health problems of residents especially the students and adolescents for treatment and counseling.

Gonzalez said the Department of Education (DepEd) joined in the noble project of Aguilar that could help most especially the students who suffered mental health problems after shifting from the previous face-to-face to virtual learning during the pandemic.

She said representatives from the Commission on Population also gave some insights on early pregnancy and harmful effect of having a sexual partner at young age.

“Mayor Aguilar is very much supportive to the health of every resident especially among the youth which is part of her health advocacy,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzales said Metro Manila Center for Health Development-Department of Health (MMCHD-DOH) Regional Director Aleli Grace Sudiacal commended the city government for the implementation of the city's mental health awareness program.

She added that even if it is very hard to attain, the mayor is wishing zero number of mental health issues among the city residents.