BIG event for mental health was started by the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Department, the City Health Office, and the Philippine Mental Health Association. They started the #LightUpBlueForMentalHealth campaign.
The event happened on the night of October 9, Monday at Gaston Park and Ysalina Bridge,” according to City Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Shiela Lumbatan.
“The goal is to make people more aware of mental health. They did this by lighting up the city in blue for one hour,” said Lumbatan.
She added this event happens during National Mental Health Week. This week is every second week of October.
It started with a proclamation signed by President Fidel Ramos on August 25, 1994.
“The blue lights show the city’s promise to care about mental health,” Lumbatan said adding that It says that no one is alone when they feel bad or upset.
“By lighting up in blue, the community wants to make it easier to talk about mental health,” she stressed.
Lumbatan also said even Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy is excited about the campaign. Uy, according to Lumbatan said that everyone should care about mental health.
Uy said that the #LightUpBlueForMentalHealth campaign is very important for changing how people think about mental health.
Many people came to the event, including government workers, mental health professionals, and community members.
The blue lights at Gaston Park and Ysalina Bridge were a strong reminder of how the city is working together to help people with mental health problems.
They hope that the #LightUpBlueForMentalHealth campaign will help people talk more about mental health, understand it better, and support each other.
Lumbatan said that if we all work together, we can make a place where people can ask for help without being afraid, and where mental health is taken seriously.
Earlier in September, Mayor Uy organized an event called ‘Walk for a Cause’. This event was the start of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It was meant to make people more aware of the problem of suicide.
Friends, families, mental health advocates, and concerned citizens came together for the ‘Walk for a Cause’.
Uy said that this event showed the community’s promise to fight the negative views about mental health.
The Department of Health (DOH)-10 also reminded people that healthily dealing with stress is good for mental health. Maria Dolores Mercado, who works for DOH-10, said, “Stress is normal, but if you handle it well, you have good mental health.”
Mercado gave some tips to reduce stress. She said to be aware of your thoughts, emotions, and behavior, listen to relaxing music, has a massage, play sports, take a nap, manage your time, debrief stress, engage in spiritual activities, stretch, and smile.
She also said it’s good to talk to someone when you feel too much stress.
During this week, Mercado said they try to make people more aware of mental health. She said they will start the Regional Mental Health Council this week to help more with mental health.
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