By Gabriela Baron
The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is offering P7,500 mental health aid to qualified students who need mental health-related medications or consultations.
Qualified UPLB students, as determined by the university’s Office of Counseling and Guidance, will receive P7,500 per semester to assist students who have mental health-related medications or consultations.
“This aims to encourage students to seek help from mental health professionals, including those having second thoughts about seeking assistance,” Rolando Bello, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Administration.
The subsidy program will take effect beginning in the academic year 2021-2022.
“All UPLB constituents are encouraged to refer students needing mental health assistance and/or intervention to the Office of Counseling Guidance, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs,” Bello added.
Meanwhile, UP Diliman PsycServ also aims to provide mental health and psychological support services to students, faculty, and staff of UP Diliman.
In 2020, the program offered free tele-psychotherapy services to frontliners, suspected COVID-positive individuals, COVID-positive individuals, their relatives, and others severely affected by COVID-19. – ag