Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU addresses counselling gap through mental health first response training

By Ian Paul Villanueva

As one way to address the shortage of accredited guidance counselors and associates at the university, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), in partnership with the non-governmental organization Mental Health First Response (MHFR), trained 35 employees in the principles and framework of MHFR on July 2 and 3.

Organized by the Guidance and Counseling & Career Center (GCCC) of the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), the training introduced the participants to MHFR, which is a prevention and intervention model that is applicable in dealing with individuals who experience mental health concerns and psychological crises.

Dr. Arthur Tolentino and Mr. Anton Jeremy Evangelio of MHFR led lectures, workshops, and assessments to give the participants knowledge and practical skills needed to provide immediate and appropriate support for students experiencing mental health challenges. The participants were also trained in facilitating timely referrals to professional services when needed.

Dr. Tolentino, a United States-based and internationally licensed psychologist, is the program developer of MHFR, while Mr. Evangelio is an MHFR clinical program coordinator and a practicing clinician.

GCCC Chief Geraldeen Pascual said strengthening the mental health competencies of student support personnel is instrumental in fostering a caring and resilient academic community.

“Amid the lack of mental health service providers in our school, such as guidance counselors and associates, we are trying our best to provide training such as MHFR to our faculty and personnel that could assist us in providing intervention to our students who really need psychological help,” she added.

Dr. Pascual also explained that having trained and certified mental health first responders is a way of compensating for the lack of accredited guidance counselors. However, she stated that the university is in the process of hiring new guidance counselors.

In the Philippines, the counselor-to-student ratio stands at an alarming 1:14,000. This falls drastically short of the globally recommended standard of 1:250 and the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) acceptable limit of 1:1000. 

In MMSU, there are only three licensed guidance counselors, a number that is expected to grow once items for new positions in the university become available, Dr. Pascual explained.

OSAS Director Lawrence John Tagata also delivered a message of support, reaffirming the university's commitment to promoting mental wellness and ensuring accessible psychosocial support for its stakeholders.

“It is expected that our mental health first responders in the university will not only serve students, but the entire MMSU community, as well. Having MHFR frontliners in the different units and colleges in the university assures that the welfare of each member of the community is addressed,” Prof. Tagata said.

Following the successful two-day program, the 35 newly trained personnel are now equipped to serve as the university's primary mental health frontliners, proactively bridging the immediate gap in professional counseling staff and solidifying MMSU’s broader agenda to cultivate a ‘Dynamic and Holistic Workforce’ as well as a safe, compassionate, and psychologically resilient campus for all.