Mental health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) in this time of COVID-19 pandemic has been emphasized this month as the online orientation by the Department of Education (DepEd) has been held last week, establishing the importance of interventions and implementation of MHPSS activities as a preparation to the formal classes starting on August 24, 2020.
DepEd recognizes the support service as a priority to the promotion and protection of mental health and general welfare of students and personnel in the time of COVID-19 pandemic as one of the ways to increase mental resilience.
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In preparation for the opening of classes, Oplan Balik Eskwela-Brigada Eskwela (OBE-BE) was launched via online press briefing last Wednesday by Undersecretary Jesus Mateo mouthing about the MHPSS during the first week of classes for SY 2020-2021 following the reminders of the required health standards guidelines.
[see: DM_s2020_058]
The orientation was conducted to establish the importance of MHPSS interventions, identify MHPSS activities by DepEd, and also provide guidance to Regional offices and School Division Offices in the implementation of the supporting services and activities.
The program caters the planned interventions like the introduction of SEES Manual, Teachers’ Activity Guides for Remote Psychosocial Support for Elementary School Aged-Learners During Disasters and Emergency Situations, Emotional Resiliency Modules, and MHPSS online courses. These interventions empower facilitation of modules related to mental health, operationalization of guidance offices, and counseling services digitally.
Aligned to DepEd’s Memorandum No.058, s. 2020 published last July 1, 2020, the orientation was enacted in response to the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for SY 2020-2021 in Light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
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