Philippine Mental Health Association Cebu Chapter

02/09/2025

02/09/2025

Remember, its okay to talk about su***de. Research indicates that discussing su***de does not increase the risk, but rather can reduce suicidal ideation by encouraging help-seeking behavior and creating a supportive environment. ✔

Let us foster open conversations about su***de to break the stigma and provide support. We all can make a difference and be a light of hope for someone going through dark times. Reaching out with empathy, listening without judgment, and connecting people to professional help when needed can truly save lives. 🎗

Keep going! ✨

01/09/2025

𝙋𝙎𝙔𝘾𝙃𝙏𝙐𝙉𝙀𝙎
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨: 𝘼 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙤 𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡, 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮

In the Philippines, Christmas begins not in December but as early as September, marked by the sound of Jose Mari Chan’s “A Christmas in Our Hearts” echoing through malls, radios, and streets. To outsiders, this may seem excessive or premature. But from the lens of Filipino psychology (Sikolohiyang Pilipino), it reveals deep cultural values that sustain our identity and sense of belonging.

According to Virgilio Enriquez (1992), the father of Filipino psychology, kapwa (shared identity) is the core of the Filipino self. The early onset of Christmas music in public spaces like malls reinforces this sense of kapwa by reminding everyone; shoppers, workers, families, that they are part of a larger community of care and celebration. The mall becomes more than a commercial hub; it transforms into a shared cultural space of joy, hope, and connection.

Other Filipino values come alive here:

🫂 Pakikipagkapwa-tao (relating with others) – Christmas songs encourage empathy and connection, making strangers feel like companions in celebration.
🫂 Bayanihan (communal unity) – Singing together, even passively in shared spaces, reinforces solidarity and lightness of spirit.
🫂 Pag-asa (hope) and loob (inner self/relational will) – The hopeful lyrics remind Filipinos of resilience amid difficulties, especially important in times of social or economic hardship.

From a sociological lens, Durkheim’s collective effervescence explains the phenomenon: when groups experience rituals together; such as hearing familiar Christmas carols, the shared energy creates joy that transcends the individual. For Filipinos, this collective effervescence is not limited to family gatherings in December; it begins in September, carried by music that stirs memory, faith, and togetherness.

Thus, when “A Christmas in Our Hearts” fills malls months ahead of Christmas, it is more than background music. It is a cultural ritual, a way of affirming that Christmas lives in the Filipino heart all year round; anchored in kapwa, sustained by hope, and made alive through shared song.

01/09/2025

𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗

📸 Look: The youth of Catarman, Liloan proudly echoed the call — “Mental Health is Peace of Mind” — during the Mental Health Awareness Seminar held in line with Linggo ng Kabataan (LNK) 2025.

01/09/2025

𝐏𝐌𝐇𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐍𝐊 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐧

Liloan, Cebu – August 31, 2025 — In line with the celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan (LNK) 2025, the PMHA Cebu Chapter conducted a Mental Health Awareness Seminar at Catarman Integrated School through the invitation of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Catarman, Liloan.

The seminar was facilitated by Phoebe Gwynn Francisco, RPm, Executive Manager of PMHA Cebu Chapter, and covered essential modules on caring for one’s mental health, as well as understanding depression and anxiety in youth. The activity was attended by the youth of Catarman, Liloan together with members of the SK council.

PMHA Cebu Chapter extends its deep appreciation to SK Catarman, Liloan for spearheading this initiative and providing the opportunity to inform and engage the youth on mental health. This invitation highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health, recognizing it as equally crucial as physical health in building resilient communities.

01/09/2025

𝐏𝐌𝐇𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

Cebu City, Philippines – August 30, 2025

The PMHA Cebu Chapter, through its Speakers’ Bureau, conducted a seminar titled “Mobile Gambling: A Security Risk” on August 23 and 30, 2025. The sessions were facilitated by Dr. Nover Louie Arizobal, RN, member of the Speakers’ Bureau, and were attended by the security personnel of Probe Security Agency.

The seminar aimed to raise awareness on the growing concerns surrounding mobile gambling, particularly its implications on individual well-being and workplace security. By equipping security personnel with knowledge on the risks associated with mobile gambling, the program sought to strengthen both personal resilience and organizational safety.

PMHA Cebu Chapter extends its sincere appreciation to Probe Security Agency for entrusting the chapter with this initiative. This partnership underscores the shared commitment to safeguarding mental health and addressing emerging behavioral risks in today’s digital landscape.

31/08/2025

🎗

31/08/2025

September is 𝑺𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉. 🎗

We continue to shine light on hope, compassion, support and healing. 🌿
Together, we honor those we’ve lost, uplift those who struggle, and remind everyone that help and hope are always within reach. 🫂💙

You matter. Your story matters.
You are loved, you are valued, and you are enough—always. ✨

30/08/2025

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗙 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬

Grief is not only about losing someone we love. Sometimes, it’s about losing versions of ourselves; the child who once dreamed, the teenager full of hope, the person we used to be.

The Ridleys capture this beautifully in Looking For:

“All I carry with me are these memories intact
It’s hard to move on when I’m stuck in the past.”

There is a quiet kind of grief in remembering who we once were and realizing we can’t go back. Growing up means carrying those memories, sometimes with joy, often with a heaviness that reminds us of the chapters already closed.

On this National Grief Awareness Day, may we recognize that grief is not only tied to death; it is also tied to change. To the people we’ve outgrown, to the versions of ourselves that time has taken away, to the dreams we had to leave behind.

And that’s okay. Grief, in all its forms, is valid. Healing is not about erasing the past, but learning how to carry it with compassion for ourselves.

💙 You are not alone in your grief.

29/08/2025

Napapagod din ang katawan kapag overloaded ang isip. 🫂
Kung madalas kang nakakaranas ng pananakit, hirap matulog, o mabilis mapagod kahit walang ginawa, baka ito ay epekto ng stress.

💡 Huwag balewalain ang mga senyales.
Your health matters. Take a break, and give yourself the care you deserve.

29/08/2025

We create space for healing, peace, and growth when we let go of things beyond our control. It's one of the kindest gifts we can give ourselves. 🌿💙

Some things are out our hands—and that’s okay. What matters most is how we nurture and care for ourselves along the way. ✨

28/08/2025

𝗣𝗠𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘂-𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘂 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

August 28, 2025 – Lapu-Lapu City College.

In line with the City Mayor’s priority on advancing mental health programs, the PMHA Cebu Chapter, represented by Chapter Executive Manager Phoebe Gwynn Francisco, met with Lapu-Lapu City College officials to discuss the implementation of mental health initiatives for the institution.

The meeting was attended by College President and Administrator, Dr. Maria Noeleen M. Borbajo, and Guidance Counselor III Ms. Elvie S. Espinosa, MAEd, RGC. Discussions centered on preventive approaches such as lectures, seminars, and awareness campaigns designed to support the well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

As part of the collaboration, Lapu-Lapu City College will be inviting PMHA Cebu Chapter’s resource speakers for its upcoming mental health awareness activities.

The initiative forms part of the city’s strengthened partnership with PMHA Cebu Chapter in promoting mental health education and support within the academic community.