GUIDANCE ADVOCATE Cultivating little help for a brighter future

By:Clairee Truzzel Magbanua

Guidance Advocate Maria Teresa A. Yap shared some coping mechanism regarding unstable mental health to help affected students overcome their struggles in life, at Compostela National High School (CNHS) on Tuesday May 17, 2023.

As a Guidance Advocate for 17 years, Yap encountered numerous cases about the mental health of the students and she shared her personal coping mechanism.

relax and meditate there.

“Pwede kaayo sila mag stambay or even matulog diri pag naa silay vacant time and naa pud tay mga board games para ma entertain pud sila,” said Yap.

She added that there is also a place in the Teen Tahanan where students who already have babies can temporarily leave their babies there and the teachers will take care of them.

Truly, student’s wellbeing is the upmost priority of the school so they encourage every student who have problems to go to the Teen Tahanan to help them lessen the burden they carry.

Unstable Mental Health affects perception

By: Clairee Truzzel Magbanua

Grade 7 Dahlia student Quenni Fernandez seeked for help as she experienced unstable mental health to help herself overcome those challenges, at Compostela National High School.

Fernandez experienced sexual harassment from her uncle who is also suffering from unstable mental health due to the death of his father, causing her to have traumas and do such things to express herself like wrist laceration.

“Bug-at sa dughan, gusto ko maglaslas and gusto ko makabalo akong parents sa akong gibati,” stated by Fernandez.

She added that she told her problems to her adviser who is quick to respond as her adviser reported it to the guidance office and fortunately was able to help her surpassed those challenges.

Truly, there is nothing wrong when you chose to call for help when you can not handle it anymore, it is better to ask for help than just let it to yourself because it can ruin your perception and your entire wellbeing.

“Para sa ako to cope up with unstable mental health is, to talk regularly, meditate, surround yourself with positive environment and good people, strong relationship with your friends and family and of course pray to God,” uttered by Yap.

She added that she felt overwhelmed when she sees the smiles of the students she helped, she felt proud because it means that she fulfilled her duty as a Guidance Advocate.

Truly, even a little help can be a big change to anyone’s lives, you do not know how your help has helped them overcome the struggles they have encountered and help them faced their brighter future.

Special Program in Journalism (SPJ) students agreed on having Mental Health Building in Compostela National High School (CNHS).

Mental Health: how it affects the learner's well being

Drops in academic performances caused great problems to schools, as it may be the result of a learner's mental well being deteriorating.

Guidance advocates are mad of the students openly joking/posting about depression/suicide to social media. As to resolve said issue, they have revitalized counseling, summoning students suspected to be at risk of committing suicide.

The student's drop in performance might come from cases ranging from mild such as anxiety and depression to severe case of bipolar disorder. These case may overtime lead to suicide as learners can no longer cope with stress.

WHO reports said about 800,000 suicide related death occur every year, or about one death every 40 seconds. This has caused for guidance advocates to overseer all students at risk of committing suicide. Reasons for such cases may vary but commonly attributed to lack of interaction. The pandemic greatly affected all, as people are forced to be distant from one another, making them feel lonely and isolated, causing anxiety and depression. Other possible causes might come from genetics. A difference in brain chemistry

Thriving amidst the struggles

When talking about mental health, depression usually comes in to the mind. This needs to change.

People suffering from depression has a negative mindset, this way of thinking destroys their confidence severely hampering their creativity and capability. But there are ways to circumvent this.

Ignoring depression doesn't work neither embracing it. It can only be solve if you confront it. This can be done in multiple ways such as finding a hobby like sports, or relaxing the mind like. meditating.

can lead to uncontrolled burst of emotions.

The learner's capacity to learn is directly affected by their mental status, as being able to handle pressure allows for a more calculated and collective approach, rather to succumbing to emotions.

The best ways to avoid any negativities in a student's mentality, they must find a hobby wether leisure or sport, to interact with people as to form strong relationships or to be more socially connected, and to meditate, relax and cleanse the mind of any impurities.