On the 22nd of February 2025, the Graduate School conducted an activity entitled “Introduction to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services in Times of Emergencies and Disaster Training Workshop” held at the Multipurpose Room, 3rd floor of Fr. James J. O’Brien SJ Library. The activity was attended by forty-three (43) participants, composed of thirty-six (36) Graduate School students, two (2) school nurses, and five (5) faculty members. The invited speaker is Ms. Abigail P. Del Puerto, a Registered Psychologist and current Program Director of Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response, Inc., with an office at 101 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City. Ms. Valerie Jane V. Geñoso, an MA Counseling Psychology student hosted the event.
The activity aims to clarify the definition of disaster versus emergencies and identify types of disasters; determine the mental health and psychosocial impacts of disasters; be familiar with the four thematic areas of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) based on Republic Act 10121; define Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), its general goals, and its function in DRRM; locate psychological first aid (PFA) and other types of interventions across the pyramid of MHPSS interventions; understand the value of MHPSS guiding principles and how said guidelines based on the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines and the Philippines’ National Guidelines on MHPSS are applied in delivering MHPSS in disaster and emergencies; and appreciate more the critical role of mental health professionals in MHPSS in times of disasters and emergencies.
Ms. Del Puerto explained that MHPSS are indispensable in disasters and emergencies as they provide the necessary intervention to protect and promote the affected populations’ mental and psychosocial well-being. All service providers, disaster responders, and front liners interfacing with disaster communities must have a good grasp of the whys and wherefores of MHPSS, including the different types of services and interventions across the thematic areas of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and the disaster cycle. Emergencies are the routine events that local police, fire, and emergency medical service personnel handle daily. Disasters and calamities like fire, earthquake, flood, typhoon, volcanic eruption, and others require more resources than a local jurisdiction has and will; therefore, they require outside assistance. People should know what disasters and hazards could affect the area, how to get emergency alerts, and where to go if they need to evacuate. They must ensure that the individual and family have a plan and practice it often.
Additionally, Ms. Del Puerto highlights the MHPSS Pyramid Intervention, guiding participants through the hierarchy of program implementation. The pyramid’s base includes basic services and security, such as providing food, water, hygiene/dignity kits, basic healthcare, ensuring safety/protection, offering information, and reuniting families during disasters, all of which are part of the MHPSS agenda. This is followed by community and family support, focused non-specialized support, and specialized support. Psychological First Aid, conducted by psychology students, practitioners, mentors, educators, and other trained individuals, falls under the focused non-specialized support category. This includes case management, family visits, support groups, structured play/art activities for children, psychosocial hotlines, and non-clinical family or individual counseling.
The emphasis on the MHPSS highlights the essential layers of support necessary to address the psychological well-being of individuals during disasters. The program ensures a comprehensive and structured approach to mental health and psychosocial support by starting with foundational services and progressing to more specialized support. MHPSS exemplifies the importance of providing immediate and accessible care, fostering resilience and recovery within affected communities. Through this organized framework, the MHPSS agenda effectively supports the holistic recovery of individuals and families in the aftermath of a disaster. To achieve this success, dedicated volunteers are needed, playing an integral role in delivering services at every level of intervention. By calling for volunteers, the program can build a network of compassionate individuals ready to step up, make an impact, and help restore dignity and well-being to those facing adversity in times of disaster.
Prepared by
Valerie Jane V. Geñoso
MA in Psychology major in Counseling Psychology
