The Education Department yesterday launched its mental health helpline system to give students, teachers and the public who are mentally and psychologically distressed an avenue to air their problems.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones said: “We prioritize the promotion and protection of the mental health and general welfare of our personnel and learners, especially amidst the challenges we face due to the (pandemic) crisis.”
Briones noted the said initiative was launched under the DepEd`s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS).
She said all DepEd offices have been instructed to include and promote the national and regional helplines of the department’s partner organizations through its Memorandum No. 072, series of 2021.
These organizations can be reached through: Circle of Hope Community Services, Inc. : (+63) 917 882 2324, (+63) 908 891 5850, (+63) 925 557 0888, COVID-19 Mental Health Responders from the Masters Psychological Services:
https://www.facebook.com/theMastersPsych/photos/a.1783242525300758/2353920514899620/?type3&;theater, Hopeline PH: (02) 8804 46 73, (+63) 917 558 4673, (+63) 918 873 4673, Globe/TM toll-fee 2919, and The 700 Club Asia: (+63) 949 889 8138, (+63) 943 706 7633, (+63) 0943 145 4815, (+63) 917 836 1513, 02 8737 0700, 1-800-1-1888-8700. ;
“These helplines can provide various ways to support our learners and personnel. They may provide mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as wellness checks, and all helpline numbers will be updated every March and October of the year,” DRRMS Director Ronilda Co said. — Noel Talacay
