By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

As part of its continued efforts to support student-grantees’ holistic development, CHED-UniFAST CAR held the second episode of its SEEDLING Project (Skills Enhancement, Engagement, and Development) this year, entitled “Unwind the Mind: A Webinar on Stress Management and Self-Care,” on June 20, 2025. The session gathered a total of 299 participants, including student-grantees, UniFAST Focal Persons from various higher education institutions across the region, and other interested youth.

The session opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Bernadette C. Pal-ec, UniFAST Focal Person of CHED-CAR.

Dr. Rhenzlet Ziaramae S. Gumop-as, Medical Officer III of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), served as the Resource Person. She introduced key concepts on mental health and stress, and shared helpful tools for self-care, including the SSTA Method (Stop–Slow Down–Think–Act) and the 12 S’s of Stress Management such as Self-Awareness, Social Connection, Spirituality, Sports, and more. The open forum featured meaningful exchanges with participants.

Joining the discussion was Dr. Rodney Boncajes, Chief of the Office for Special Concerns of NCMH, who provided additional insights and addressed the concerns raised by the attendees.

To close the session, Dr. Gumop-as emphasized that adolescence is indeed a challenging and often stressful stage of life. She encouraged participants to utilize practical tools such as the SSTA Method as well as the 12 S’s of Stress Management.

Dr. Boncajes further stressed the importance of prioritizing mental health and reminded the audience that self-care is not selfish. He encouraged students to seek help when needed and highlighted the growing availability of support services across the country. “We exist in harmony with others. We need the support of other people just as much as we can support them,” he shared. He also cited that there are now 878 Medicine Access Sites for Mental Health (MAP-MH) nationwide, making support more accessible than ever.

The session concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Ma. Geraldine F. Casipit, Chief Education Program Specialist of CHED-CAR, who commended the participants for taking the time to invest in their well-being and learning.

Through the SEEDLING Project, CHED-UniFAST CAR continues its commitment to holistic development, empowering grantees not just academically, but emotionally and mentally as well.