Contributed by CPH – Charmaine M. Cañizares, Dr. Ernesto R. Gregorio, Jr., Prof. Buenalyn Teresita Ramos-Mortel, Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr.
The UP Manila College of Public Health (CPH) Department of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE), together with the CPH Student Council, conducted a webinar titled “Ako Naman Muna: A Safe Space Discussion on Self-Care” on 31 January 2024. The event was organized as part of the monthly Wellness
Wednesdays initiatives of CPH.
Dean Fernando B. Garcia, Jr., in his welcome remarks, underscored the importance of practicing self-care. He also extended gratitude to #MentalHealthPH and expressed CPH’s willingness to collaborate in fostering mentally healthier communities in the Philippines.
Roy Dahildahil, Co-founder and Executive Director of #MentalHealthPH, led the safe space discussion on self-care. In the webinar, he unpacked the audience’s perceptions of self-care and proceeded in highlighting the following points and reminders:
Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is actually giving yourself love and energy to be able to help others.
Self-care is not expensive. It could be as simple as talking to friends or looking at your plants.
Self-care is not time-consuming. Self- care could be a short 10-minute break, 5-minute meditation or pausing for a while.
Self-care is not earned. It is a gift from you that you can use anytime. For instance, you can give it to yourself in preparation for a big task.
Another important reminder from Dahildahil is the idea of being kinder and more compassionate to ourselves when self-care seems difficult to practice. He also reminded the audience that external
factors involving the society and the existing systems also influence the challenges of doing self-care.
Practicing self-care boosts one’s health, productivity and efficiency. It also helps maintain and improve relationships.
The mental health expert also asked webinar participants to develop an action plan for self-care through a self-care kit questions. He also discussed the various self-care types that one can use based on their needs and interests. The self-care types are physical, emotional, cognitive, social, financial, and spiritual
self-care. Dahildahil also presented the Mental Health Continuum Model containing the different mental health states and the corresponding coping skills for each state. Seeking professional care, when needed, is the most courageous self-care act, he emphasized. #
To access the #MentalHealthPH-DOH Self-Care Kits presented in the webinar, you may go to https://
mentalhealthph.org/doh-mentalhealthph-self-care-kit/
