Mental health struggles often remain invisible, with many Filipinos choosing to suffer in silence due to stigma, cost, or uncertainty about where to seek help. To make mental health support more accessible, mWell is expanding its digital mind health services through affordable consultations, self-guided wellness tools, and a growing network of certified specialists—giving Filipinos more ways to prioritize their emotional well-being anytime and anywhere.
Frontline healthcare workers face nonstop pressure, and caring for their mental well-being is key to keeping hospitals running with compassion and clarity. To support this, PLDT Enterprise partnered with Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan to help hospital staff strengthen resilience and stay safe in an increasingly digital world.
The session offered practical tools for managing stress and staying alert against online scams, giving frontliners both emotional support and digital protection. For readers, this highlights how mental wellness and cyber safety go hand in hand, especially in demanding workplaces like healthcare.
As Mental Health Awareness Month takes center stage, MindNation, a trusted provider of mental health services in the Philippines, unveils exclusive discounts on psychologist and WellBeing Coach sessions.
Take the first step towards better mental well-being today! #MentalHealthAwareness #WellBeing
PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) organized a psychological first aid (PFA) training for over 50 scholars and faculty of Passerelles Numériques Philippines (PNPh). The training session was facilitated by millennial psychologist Riyan Portuguez in-person at Smart’s Regional Office in Cebu.
Pastor Benny Capuno, a tribal leader in Porac, Pampanga, knows all too well the great distress his Ayta community goes through when an earthquake strikes. In April 2019, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake devastated Porac, affecting hundreds and killing 10, five of whom were from the Ayta community. For Capuno, it reminded him and the community of the fragility of life, especially as when the same town was devastated by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. It also reminded him of the mental well-being of those who survived.
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| The Ayta women brainstorm for their presentation on a situational role-playing session as part of the Psychological First Aid training. |
So when the community partnered with PLDT and Smart, they co-developed a Psychological First Aid Program that catered to the mental health needs of the community. According to Capuno, the Psychological First Aid Training enhanced the awareness of the community to better address future psychological needs.
Capuno serves as a mamuun or tribal leader of the Indigenous People’s Political Structures in CADT 123 or the ancestral domain of the Ayta MagIndi and Ayta MagAntsi in Porac, Pampanga.
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“Malaking pasalamat namin kasi natuto kami na kami mismo meron pala kaming kakayanan. Natuto kami kung paano makinig, ‘yung paano namin labanan ‘yung nagaganap at tsaka natutunan namin kung ano ‘yung kahulugan ng mga nagaganap [sa amin] at paano namin mapagtagumpayan at mas mapalakas pa. Natuto kami sa parte na iyon at kami mismo, kaya naming lagpasan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon,” Capuno said. (We are really grateful because we learned that we also have the capacity [to address the mental health needs of our community]. [Through the training] we learned how to listen. We learned that we can fight the difficult things that are happening to us. We learned to understand the meaning of what is happening around us and how we can overcome and strengthen these. We learned in those aspects, and we now we know that we, ourselves, can overcome these situations.)
“‘Yun ang doon sa mga pangyayaring pagkaba, takot, at ‘yung kamalayan ay natutunan namin – bagong kamalayan sa amin. Masaya kami dahil natutunan namin ‘yung akala namin ‘yung pag-aaral ng kalusugang pang-sikolohikal ay natutunan namin na akala namin, hindi puwede sa amin. Pero ngayon pala, puwedeng puwede. At kami mismo pala ay puwedeng makapagsagawa ng ganoon,” Capuno added. (Those situations [where we experience] nervousness [and] fear, we learned some awareness – it was a new awareness for us. We are very happy because we are open to learning new awareness and that we learned more about the psychological health care because we thought it was something that we cannot learn ourselves, but then, we learned how it’s possible. That it is possible for us to do it and it is possible for us to implement this kind of initiative.)
Promoting mental health strength as fundamental to digital wellness is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) #3 that stands for good health and well-being.
Last October 20-22, MindNation and Belle De Jour Power Planner held its inaugural on-ground event "You Got This! Creating Safe Spaces, Crafting Tomorrows" at the East Wing of the Shangri La Plaza. The event aimed to celebrate World Mental Health Day, raise mental health awareness and drive action towards investing in better well-being in communities and workplaces.
During this 3-day gathering, attendees immersed themselves in engaging talks and interactive workshops by mental health experts and advocates. Topics ranged from how to create safe spaces at work to gaining confidence, all highlighting the need for fostering supportive environments to build growth and resilience.
“Mental health is a continuum, where we could be fine one moment but get triggered the next,” said MindNation Chief WellBeing Officer Eiza Fusingan-Lappay. “It’s important we build safe spaces and support each other during challenging times.”
“Community-based mental health is our future,” adds The Millennial Psychologist Riyan Portuguez. “With mental health awareness increasing due to conversations like these, there is now also an increasing demand for more support and resources.”
And finally, tv host, athlete, and World Vision Ambassador Kim Atienza had this to say: “We are in the mindset of a mental health epidemic. Let’s be salt and light to all those we know and meet. We can all do our part to help others achieve Better Mind, Better You.”
To promote the accessibility and affordability of their teletherapy services, MindNation offered “You Got This” attendees complimentary 15-minute one-on-one chats with MindNation psychologists and WellBeing Coaches on-site. Those interested to book full one- hour teletherapy sessions enjoyed up to 50% discount on teletherapy sessions.
Recognizing the importance of effective planning and organization in the quest to support and promote mental health, Belle De Jour highlighted and offered special discounts for their 2024 BDJ Planner Collection. The 2024 BDJ planner collection comprises four distinct planners: Everything is Possible Planner, Work-Life Balance Planner, Health & Wellness Planner, and the Financial Freedom Planner. These planners are not just tools for organizing daily tasks; they also serve as a guide in achieving balance, wellness, and success in all aspects of one’s life.
“On behalf of Belle De Jour, it was truly inspiring to witness the community engaging in meaningful conversations about mental health and well-being. 'You Got This!' has been an incredible journey," remarked Darlyn Ty-Nilo, Founder and President of Belle De Jour Power Planner.
"The incredible turnout and enthusiasm for 'You Got This!' reaffirms the importance of fostering open dialogues about mental health and making resources accessible and affordable to those who need them. We are honored to have provided a platform for those who wish to embark on a journey ," said Cat Triviño, Co-founder and Chief Product & Data Officer at MindNation.
You Got This 2023 served as a powerful testament to the growing importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being, underscoring the value of open conversations, education, and accessible resources. MindNation and Belle De Jour hope that the event sets a promising precedent for future discussions and initiatives on mental health and holistic wellness.
“You Got This! Creating Safe Spaces, Crafting Tomorrows” is in partnership with Mental Health PH and Shangri-La Plaza, and supported by The Love Institute, Weremote, Yoga Love, Photobook, Clara Ole, Commune, FRNK, and When In Manila.
PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have partnered with the local government of Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City, and Passerelles numériques Philippines (PNPh) in upskilling over 200 senior citizens on basic smartphone usage, internet safety, and mental health awareness.
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| The Mental Health Awareness Summit is attended by over 230 participants from different universities, including Bulacan State University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. |
PLDT and Smart recently supported San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan’s mental health summit, a Better Today conversations on digital wellness. It was attended by over 230 youth participants from various universities, including Bulacan State University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
There's a saying "Small steps are better than no steps" which is also applicable when we talk about mental health. It's no easy feat, as it requires time, strength and will.
In time for the month-long celebration of World Mental Health Awareness Month this October, social media celebrity Macoy Dubs, a long-time mental health co-champion of PLDT and Smart, shared his personal mental health journey through the employee engagement initiative, “Better Today Conversations: Mind Your Health”.
Since launching the Better Today Conversations program in October 2020, PLDT and Smart have garnered over 1 million views for its online series on mental health awareness, including the Time Capsule Project and Power Move Project.
PLDT and Smart continues its Better Today conversations series on mental health, this time with Baguio City.
Together with the Provincial Government of La Union and mental health advocate Joy Ortega, PLDT and Smart reinforce their commitment to creating safe spaces online for the youth to discuss mental health through the monthly conversations series entitled, “Kamusta Ka, eLyU?”. With two episodes aired, the series has garnered over 10,000 views and counting.
Strengthening the companies’ commitment to championing mental health awareness, PLDT and Smart launched the Power Move Project, a conversations series on sports and mental resilience.
PLDT and Smart scale up their mental health initiatives online, linking up with more advocacy groups, organizations, and local government units (LGUs).
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