Many people are not well-informed about mental health, it is usually seen as a shameful issue to discuss when a member of the family manifests it. Some people are not able to differentiate depression or anxiety with insanity.
The AU Juan Sumulong Campus Guidance office ventured to bridge this gap with a discussion of the problem with parents of Grade 11 student with an on-line meeting with Dr. Marites Mascariñas on January 17, 2023.
Dr. Mascariñas explained the reality of depression among young people. She said that like the physical body, the mind also can get sick, and needs professional help. She gave a lecture on mental health and emphasized the need for parents to have quality time with their children.
On November 29, 2022, the Guidance office again conducted a webinar specifically for Grade 12 students, entitled “Mental Health for Teens”. The guest speaker was Michael U. Jimenez, RPSY, DIPOD, MACLNPSY.
The speaker went through the stages in the development of feelings, both positive and negative. with the advent of the pandemic years, the world became ever-changing bringing about anxiety, depression and other traumatic stress disorders.
He left a message to the audience saying that “stress is a part of life and life is not perfect; is is a journey, and stress is part of the experience”.
For teens, coping may not be easy, and they should look for support; professional help, counselors, parents friends or any trusted person.
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