Previous
Next

In support of ongoing efforts to promote wellness, the Governance and Linkages Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI-G&L) recently hosted the Understanding Choices Forum: Mainstreaming Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace and in the Community.

The University of San Carlos (USC) and the Wellbeing Cluster of Visayas partnered with RAFI for this activity, which was held last July 31, 2018 at the Buttenbruch Hall of the University of San Carlos.

Attended by around 270 participants representing academic institutions, the humanitarian sector, and the industries and business sector of Cebu, the forum highlighted the need to increase awareness on mental health to erase the stigma on mental health disorders and their sufferers.

Gibby Gorres, communications officer of the Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, led discussions on the recently signed Republic Act 11036 also known as the Philippine Mental Health Act. He explained that the law seeks to protect the rights of persons with mental health needs, integrate mental health service delivery in the general health delivery system, and promote mental well-being in schools, barangays and workplace.

The second speaker, Michael Godinez, RAFI AVP for Human Resources and current president of PMAP Cebu, a long time HR practitioner and a clinical psychologist, shared his experiences and challenges in mainstreaming mental health in the workplace. He echoed the need for increased awareness among both management and workers to ensure that the stigma on mental health illness is corrected.

The forum served as the kickoff activity for two research presentations from USC Psychology students related to the mental health and wellbeing of first responders, and to the four breakout sessions that mainstreamed wellbeing and resiliency concepts to the youth, business and the humanitarian aid sectors, respectively. It highlighted the second day of the two-day celebration of the launching of the Wellbeing Cluster.

The Wellbeing Cluster consists of non-government organizations, academe, government agencies, local government units, media, faith-based organizations, private sectors, and other sectoral groups based in the Visayas seeking to promote and mainstream psychosocial and mental health programs towards wellness and resiliency in the workplace.

The Governance and Linkages Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI-G&L) seeks to foster responsive institutions and an engaged citizenry through awards and recognition, good governance and leadership development programs, and active linkages and platforms of engagement and collaboration.