Mapúa MCL Psychology Students Finish Virtual Summer Program under YARSI University
By Lois Gabrielle D. Tobias
Fifteen B.S. Psychology students from Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) recently participated in a virtual summer program organized by YARSI University in Jakarta, Indonesia. The program, titled “Byte-sized Resilience: Mental Wellness for Society 5.0 and Beyond SDGs,” aimed to address critical mental health challenges arising from the rapid advancements in technology and society last February 27 and March 1 to 2 and 8, 2024.
The B.S. Psychology student attendees are the following: Leila Arrabela C. Diaz, Mensa Christi A. Martinez, Hazel J. Cordero, Janna Chris T. Mendez, Caitlin Chelsy A. Tan, Czhakkia Laynne V. Tolentino, Yensid Arnelle D. Lopez, Jermaine Ian R. Salazar, Ashley Reign S. Valenzuela, Audrey Anne N. Contreras, Nicole Franchezca H. Maaba, Sophia Clare Cantalejo, Ma. Jo Kristine A. Tolentino, Patricia Angeli N. Banaticla, and Mary Elika E. Lopez.
This program was carried out by the Faculty of Psychology at YARSI University which emphasized health psychology and its participation in the success of SDGs goals related to health, welfare, equality, and the environment. The program was divided into four short courses, mainly topics on Mental Health First Aid, Digital Gender Divide, Community Resilience For Better Mental Health, Mental Health, Climate Change, and Food Security.
“My major takeaway was understanding how environmental changes can affect people’s mental well-being, leading to stress and anxiety.” said Leila Arrabela C. Diaz, one of the participants of the program, “As a psychology student, the insights I gained from the program on mental wellness at YARSI University will significantly influence both my personal approach to mental well-being and my contributions to the community meaning recognizing the potential impact of climate change and food security on my well-being and implementing coping strategies.”
On a broader scale, she plans to utilize the knowledge and tools gained from the program to contribute to the community’s mental health initiatives. This involves advocating for policies that address both environmental sustainability and mental wellness.
Mapúa MCL’s Psychology program opens opportunities for its students to gain knowledge from the institution and others, highlighting Mapúa MCL’s dedication to continuous learning and collaboration especially in helping address the evolving challenges of mental health in our rapidly changing world.