The Apayao Provincial Health Office has strengthened its mental health response program by training 150 high school students to serve as peer support responders for fellow learners experiencing mental health issues.
Loremia Pareja of the Apayao provincial government information office, said the student-responders came from four secondary schools: Apayao National Agro-Industrial High School in Calanasan, Conner Central National High School, Sipa-Imelda National High School in Sta. Marcela, and Bacda National High School in Luna.
“A total of 150 students from four secondary schools in the province have stepped up to serve as mental health peer supporters who will respond to peers suffering from mental health issues,” Pareja said in an interview on Thursday.
The students underwent a five-day training under the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program (MHPSS) initiated by the Provincial Health Office.
The training included real-life scenarios, role-playing exercises, and open discussions to prepare them as frontliners in providing basic peer intervention and emotional first response.
“These peer supporters will be the first line of assistance for classmates dealing with stress, anxiety, or personal difficulties,” Pareja noted.
The initiative is part of Apayao’s efforts to expand access to mental health support among youth by implementing school-based, peer-led programs. (PNA)
