Bacolod City Hall execs undergo mental health session

BACOLOD City – To promote mental wellness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, department and office heads of the Bacolod City Government recently underwent a three-hour session on mental health and psycho-social support at the Government Center.

“Amid these uncertain times when many of our employees are faced with fear, worry, and the new realities brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, it is also important to look after our mental health,” City Administrator Em Ang said.

The session was coordinated by the Human Resource and Management Services Office, and conducted by CARe Psycho-Social Support and Consultancy Services Hub, led by Dr. Rowena Bañes, with facilitators Dr. Calvin Dave Ganub and Dr. Ana Lou Panganiban.

The first two batches of City Hall heads were divided into two sessions. Two more sessions will be conducted in December.

The activity allowed the participants to share their pandemic-related experiences in relation to their personal management practices as heads of offices.

“The session involves topics like setting boundaries between work and personal life at home, handling emotions, and raising awareness on how vital mental health is,” Ganub said.

Meanwhile, a proposed ordinance creating the “Bacolod City Mental Health Council” – authored by Councilor Cindy Rojas – is now set for third reading in the Sangguniang Panlungsod. (PIO)