Coping with Life’s Challenges: Mental Health Awareness for Young Minds

On May 25, 2024, the Light for All Foundation, in collaboration with Dr. Rea Celine Villa who is a senior psychologist at Mind You and co-author of the first-ever Filipino Youth Depression Scale which serves as an initial self-assessment tool that measures individual depression tendencies and the book author of Tama Na, Brain: A Filipino’s Guide to Stop Overthinking, conducted a mental health awareness seminar for youth. The session aimed to shed light on crucial mental health topics and offer insights into coping mechanisms for young individuals.

Dr. Rea covered various aspects of mental health, including defining mental health, identifying crises, and understanding the consequences of leaving a crisis unaddressed. She also explored how certain life changes and pressures in the youth’s environment could potentially lead to crises.

In addition, the discussion delved into stress and its possible progression into trauma, as well as the mental health disorders that may arise from unmanaged stress. The session emphasized that pain is not always visible, and in some cases, it can lead to tragic outcomes such as suicide.

The seminar also touched on Filipino values and how these cultural influences can impact decision-making and coping strategies. She highlighted how Filipinos handle life’s challenges and how these coping mechanisms affect mental health.

A total of 22 youth participants attended the session, engaging actively in the discussions. Towards the end of the seminar, the attendees shared topics they would like to explore further in future sessions, including stress and time management, choosing the right friends, and handling peer pressure.

Overall, the event provided a meaningful opportunity for young individuals to better understand mental health and gain valuable tools for managing stress and navigating the challenges they face.