UPLB to provide eligible students with P7.5-K financial aid for mental health expenses
Eligible students from the University of the Philippines Los Baños will be provided P7,500 cash aid per semester to support their mental health-related expenses.
In the memorandum shared by the university's publication, UPLB Perspective on June 20, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Administration Rolando Bello stated that the initiative “aims to encourage students to seek help from mental health professionals” with the inclusion of those who have second thoughts about seeking professional help.
The UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance will determine eligible and qualified students as per the guidelines set by the UP Student Wellness Subsidiary Program (UP SWSP).
READ: Eligible and qualified UPLB students who need mental health-related medications and/or consultations, as determined by the UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance, will receive an assistance of P7500 per semester.#UPLBupdates pic.twitter.com/iu7h5qE8JP
— UPLB Perspective (@uplbperspective) June 20, 2022
According to the statement, this strategy is being implemented in line with UP SWSP indicated in Memorandum RAG 2022-13 that was issued by the UP Office of Student Development Services on June 7, 2022.
The same financial assistance program is being implemented by UP Manila since March this year.
Aside from UPLB and UP Manila, other educational institutions have been offering their students and the Filipino community psychological services during the pandemic.
The Ateneo de Manila's Bulatao Center provides free consultation services for Filipinos albeit for limited slots only. Those who are interested can sign up for the service every Thursday through this link: http://bit.ly/BPSBulatao.
During the height of the pandemic, De La Salle University announced that it is offering financial, psychological, and connectivity support to its students and other members of the academic community.
In a statement released in May 2020, DLSU said that it will give students in their Manila campus a 7% tuition fee rebate for the ongoing academic year, while those in their Laguna campus are entitled to a 10% rebate.
The university also announced that it is offering free counseling services from the Office of Counselling and Career Services.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas' Mental Health Responders also opened its doors in February this year for UST students, personnel, and faculty members who would like to avail of free psychosocial support and intervention, particularly for mental health and psychological first aid.
If you or anyone you know is undergoing a mental health crisis, you may also contact the Department of Health-Nation Center for Mental Health hotline at 0917-899-8727 or 02-7989-8727; or the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation Hopeline at 0917-558-4673, 0918-873-4673 and 02-8804-4673; as well as the In Touch Crisis Line at 0917-800-1123, 0922-893-8944, or 02-8893-7603.
