The Philippines largest fully integrated telco company, PLDT Inc., together with its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc., launched a meaningful partnership with the Archdiocese of Cebu’s Commission on Youth and the University of San Carlos Kauban Psychological Center.
Kauban is a mental health support group in Cebu City organized in 2017.
It is a channel of hope and a safe refuge towards self-efficacy and maximum psychological functioning. The group works on increasing awareness on the significance of mental health, providing free psychological support to people manifesting symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideas. They also aim to empower people with mental health concerns, helping them gain control over themselves and their lives.
The Church and telco collaboration falls under the latter’s digital health and wellness banner program Better Today PH. The goal is to facilitate community-based programs to reach Cebu’s various grassroots communities. Recently, over 20 youth leaders were trained by psychology professors and mental healthcare professionals on the basics of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
The launch in mid-October marked the start of a series of mental health-related training, in cooperation with the Youth Frontiers Committee of the different parishes in the archdiocese. The end goal is to be able to build localized mental health care communities by mobilizing trained mental health care responders and volunteers.
“PLDT and Smart’s valuable partnership with the church and well-respected psychology professionals will help invite more communities to mind their digital health and mental wellness. We are forwarding this advocacy through our services that champion our customers’ welfare,” said Marylou Gocotano, head of Visayas Relations under Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.
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