SAGADA, Mountain Province – The provincial government, through its Provincial Health Office (PHO), conducted a three-day Mental Health Gap Action Programme (MHGAP) and psychological first aid training for municipal health officers, chiefs of hospital and other medical officers at the Sagada Homestay Inn and Restaurant in Poblacion, Sagada on August 28-30, 2024.
According to PHO Mental Health Coordinator and psychologist Eleonor B. Batnag, the activity is a continuation and part of the DOH-Project RISE UP (Reaching Individuals for Self-Empowerment Through Unified Partnerships) which was implemented last year to help in equipping schools and community and other various stakeholders in the education, prevention and early intervention of mental health issues.
In her message, Provincial Health Officer Carol D. Yawan said that the activity is a continuing effort of the provincial government and the DOH to further capacitate health care providers in addressing mental health challenges in the province.
She urged the participants to support the mental health initiatives in the province and help in educating others on the importance of mental health awareness.
For this year, the medical officers are the first batch of participants while the second batch with mental health coordinators as participants, is scheduled for September.
The resource speakers during the whole duration of the training were psychiatrists Angela Libag and Maricon Te, and psychologist Amy Valdez, all from the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center Psychiatry Department. By Hail, MP
