Community Extension and Public Service

to help build a better world where peace, freedom, responsibility, justice, humanity, and morality will prevail…a global society based on respect and caring for individuals and peoples.

The Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists (American Psychological Association, 2008)

Initiatives and programs aiming to foster psychological well-being among children, adolescents, and parents in grassroot communities are essential. We can say that psychological services are equitable and responsive to diverse needs if they reach not only those who, by default, have access to it due to their geographic or socio-economic location, but also those who are unable to access these services due to oppressive structures and disenfranchisement.

Hence, it is essential for mental health providers to have a solid understanding and appreciation of community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services. Since the 1990s, there have already been organizations in the Philippines which focused on community mental health because of the need to respond to emergencies such as typhoons, armed conflict, and other events which threaten human dignity, rights, and development.  

Family Psychoeducation among participants of PETA Lingap Sining Project in Pope Francis Village, Leyte

Pope Francis Village is a resettlement community in Leyte, who is mainly comprised of families displaced due to typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. In partnership with PETA’s Lingap Sining, we conducted Resilience-Focused Family Psychoeducation for parents and their children in the community. The goal of this initiative was to provide opportunities to families to reflect, discuss, and gain skills in various areas of family life such as family communication, decision-making, and other family processes.

Family Psychoeducation for Participants of Sugpat Adolescent Development and Participation Program

Sugpat Adolescent Development and Participation Program is an initiative by Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Through the partnership forged through Pintig Adolescent Psychosocial Support Program, the Resilience-Focused Family Psychoeducation for families of out-of-school youth beneficiaries was implemented through Sugpat’s Family Strengthening Program.

Training for Family Facilitators

An important component of community extension work is capacity-building for teachers, counselors, and community development workers who can facilitate Resilience-Focused Family Psychoeducation. In this training, participants are oriented to the intervention framework and are equipped with specific strategies and techniques in facilitating family activities and conducting psychosocial processing.

ArcWell (Arroceros Children’s Wellness) Initiative

This is a psychosocial support initiative for children and families faced with adverse life experiences (ALEs). This has been organized by Manila Doctors Hospital Corporate Social Responsibility office, in partnership with Department of Human and Family Development Studies, UPLB.

Wellness Facilitators Training for ArcWell

ArcWell is volunteer-driven. Individuals with training in psychology, education, and human and family development are trained to be wellness facilitators. Hence, capacity building for facilitators was co-organized by Manila Doctors Hospital, the Department of Human and Family Development Studies, UPLB and Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response, Inc. , and PETA’s Lingap Sining.

Networking, Linkages and Collaborative Community Engagement

The success of any community-based mental health intervention relies on the power of the people in the community, with the support of concerned professionals with training and expertise in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services. Hence, establishing networks and linkages towards collaboration is necessary. We can do it together (“kaya basta sama-sama”).