Photo grabbed during the Comfort Core A Psychological First Aid webinar with the participants
Committed to prioritizing student welfare and mental health in the workplace, the UP Open University (UPOU) University Student Council (USC), in collaboration with the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU and the UPOU Office of Student Affairs, held the Psychological First Aid (PFA) webinar entitled “Comfort Core” on 19 November 2024 via Zoom.
Dr. Jowima Ang-Reyes, the Director of the UP Diliman Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, and Dr. Michelle Ong, lead facilitator of the UP Diliman Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Psychosocial Support Program, served as resource speakers of the PFA webinar. The four-hour webinar was divided into three segments: the two speakers’ presentations, and a breakout session where participants answered some reflective questions.
For the first talk, Dr. Ang-Reyes discussed “Mental Health, Strengths-based Framework, and Wellness Skills” where she gave an overview of what mental and emotional well-being entails–including the different ‘zones’ (i.e. red, lavender, blue) that individuals should take note of to better stay in touch with their emotions and mental health.
Dr. Ang-Reyes presented her topic on Neuroplasticity and how this helps in teaching our brain to better cope with stressors and triggers
Dr. Ang-Reyes also expounded on the foundation of their Psychosocial Support Program, the Strengths-based Assumptions, where individuals cope differently based on their strengths shaped by their experiences, ideas, and values. Lastly, she provided a brief overview of the concept of Neuroplasticity that pertains to how brains can be taught healthy habits (e.g., grounding) to better cope with triggers or crises.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ong’s presentation entitled “Psychological First Aid: A Guide for Fieldworkers” focused on introducing the basic concepts of their PFA based on the strengths-based assumption.
Dr. Ong presenting the action principles of Psychological First Aid that PFA providers must always remember
According to Dr. Ong, PFA aims to stabilize and return survivors to functional capacity while promoting their sense of control. She also noted that PFA is not a replacement for professional help but is instead a first aid to provide practical care including connecting people to information, services, and social support. She concluded her presentation by detailing the “Look, Listen, Link” action principles of PFA.
The Open Forum was moderated by the webinar hosts Elsie Cansino from USC and Jezreel Anne Cometa from Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU. After the presentations, around 90 participants were divided into breakout groups to discuss the reflective questions given by Dr. Ong. Some volunteers shared their group’s discussions.
Ms. Unlayao promoting the KaYa App and its services for the public and UPOU constituents
The promotion of the Kalinga at Yakap (KaYa) App marked the end of the webinar. The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód UPOU Project Staff, Naomi Jean Unlayao, briefly discussed the services offered by KaYa and the steps on how the participants can register and install the app on their smartphones. She also encouraged the users to answer the feedback form of KaYa.
KaYa (Kalinga at Yakap) is a mental health app that provides accessible and free mental health-related resources (e.g., webinars, and stress management videos) through the web or any mobile devices. As of 2024, KaYa is currently available to UPOU constituents only.
For questions and inquiries, you may contact Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU on their Facebook or email at [email protected].
Contributed by Ugnayan ng Pahinungod UPOU
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