The University of the Philippines Visayas, through the Gender and Development Program (GDP), together with the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network, organized a public forum on “Mental Health of Children and Young Adolescents” on 18 October 2023 at the UPV Little Theater, Iloilo City campus. The event sought to raise awareness on the importance of mental health among children and adolescents, and to provide tips for parents, guardians, and caregivers on ways to cultivate an environment that supports children’s mental health and well-being.
Dr. Aimee G. Chua, child and adolescent psychiatrist and faculty of the College of Medicine of West Visayas State University, served as resource speaker in the public forum. In her lecture, she tackled the determinants of mental health in children and the youth, and discussed common mental health problems of children and how to deal with them.
Around 150 participants coming from various government agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local government units in Western Visayas attended the activity. UPV Balay Balay Child Minding Center (BBCMC) parents from Miagao and Iloilo City campuses also joined the public forum.
The said public forum is one of the activities of UPV in line with this year’s celebration of National Children’s Month with the theme, “Healthy, nourished, sheltered: Ensuring the right to life for all!”
