Philippine Mental Health Association Cebu Chapter

29/01/2026

A gentle reminder in the middle of the daily grind: slow down, breathe, and allow yourself to rest. ✨💙

28/01/2026

Feeling overwhelmed? Try a micro-break. 😉 Small pauses during the day can help reset your mind, reduce stress and improve focus. 🧘‍♀️

26/01/2026

Staying productive in the daily grind means balancing focus with mental health self-care. 🤹‍♀️🤹‍♂️ Work smarter, rest when needed, and celebrate small wins along the way. Here are some strategies to help you do just that! 😉🎉

25/01/2026

Our National Executive Director is celebrating her natal day today! Happiest birthday, Dr. Carolina Uno-Rayco! 🥳🎂💖

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and visionary guidance in championing mental health advocacy with us at PMHA. Your tireless efforts inspire us all. Wishing you a blessed year ahead filled with joy, good health, inner peace and continued success! 🎉

Warm wishes from your PMHA Cebu Chapter family! 💙

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗼-𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗼! Thank you for your unwavering commitment to making mental health a priority for every Filipino. Your dedication to mental health advocacy inspires us every day to serve with compassion and excellence.

Wishing you a day filled with the same joy and peace you advocate for every day! 🥂

25/01/2026

Sending warm birthday greetings to our cherished board member, Dr. Christine Joyce A. Villero! 🥳🎂🎈

Thank you for your profound contributions to mental health advocacy and community well-being. Wishing you a year overflowing with joy, good health, continued impact, and well-deserved celebration!

From your PMHA Cebu Chapter family!

23/01/2026

𝗣𝗠𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮
Minglanilla Sports Complex | January 23, 2026

The Philippine Mental Health Association Cebu Chapter received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Local Government of Minglanilla in recognition of its sustained partnership in delivering community-based mental health services.

The certificate was formally awarded during the Minglanilla 4th Public Health Summit, held at the Minglanilla Sports Complex.

PMHA Cebu Chapter has been working closely with the Municipality of Minglanilla to provide regular mental health consultations for residents. What began as a quarterly initiative has since expanded into a bimonthly service last year, reflecting both the growing demand for mental health support and the shared commitment of PMHA and the local government to make mental health care more accessible at the community level.

The recognition highlights the importance of strong local partnerships in strengthening public health systems and advancing mental health as a core component of overall well-being. PMHA Cebu Chapter extends its gratitude to the Local Government of Minglanilla for its continued trust, collaboration, and support in promoting inclusive and responsive mental health services for the community.

22/01/2026

When was the last time you unplugged and stepped outside? 🌞
Schedule that quick nature break and let it recharge your mind and body! 🌿🌊

Here are some benefits. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

21/01/2026

💙

21/01/2026

This is your reminder to drink water for your glow, inside and out! 😉✨

21/01/2026

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺-𝗢𝗞 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

Every National Autism Consciousness Week invites reflection. But this year, the call is clearer and more urgent. It is time to move past awareness and toward action, toward an Autism-OK Philippines that understands, supports, and stands with its people on the spectrum.

An estimated 1.2 million Filipinos, about one in every hundred, are living with autism. Behind that number are families navigating daily realities that are often invisible to the public eye. Their stories point us to the pillars of an advocacy that is grounded not only in compassion, but in evidence and lived experience.

𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩

For many Filipino families, an autism diagnosis marks the beginning of a difficult financial and emotional journey. Early and consistent intervention is critical, yet it remains out of reach for many.

Speech therapy, for example, can cost around 500 pesos per hour. Occupational therapy, developmental assessments, and regular consultations add to the expense. For middle- and lower-income families, these costs quickly become overwhelming, turning care into a privilege rather than a right.

This is why advocates are pushing for structural solutions, including the proposed establishment of a National Center for Autism under the Philippine Senate. Such a center would signal a shift from fragmented, privately funded care to a system where government plays an active role in providing specialized services and long-term support.

At home, the burden is often carried quietly by mothers. Many step away from their careers to provide full-time care, guided by a deeply rooted sense of responsibility and love. In households where fathers work long hours or away from home, mothers frequently become the sole caregiver, therapist, and advocate rolled into one.

𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙢𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮

In public spaces, the challenges continue. Families recount being stared at, judged, or even reprimanded when a child has a meltdown in a mall, on public transport, or in a restaurant. These reactions reflect not malice, but a lack of understanding.

To protect their children, many caregivers feel forced into a proactive role, explaining a medical condition to strangers before criticism sets in. It is an exhausting routine, and one that places the burden of education on those already stretched thin.

An inclusive society does not ask parents to apologize for their child’s neurodiversity. Instead, it responds with patience and empathy. Behavioral challenges are often the greatest source of stress for families, and public understanding can make a meaningful difference. Behavioral literacy, knowing that not all disabilities are visible and that behavior is communication, is a powerful tool against stigma.

𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝

Amid these struggles, Filipino families also draw strength from culture, community, and faith. Many parents speak of their children with autism as divine gifts or angels entrusted to their care. This reframing helps sustain hope, even on the hardest days.

Extended families often step in as safety nets, offering practical help and emotional support. Younger siblings are gradually prepared to look after their brother or sister in the future, reflecting a collective sense of responsibility that goes beyond the nuclear family.

Faith, too, plays a central role. Prayer, church involvement, and spiritual reflection help many parents find meaning, acceptance, and the strength to continue loving fiercely and unconditionally.

An Autism-OK Philippines is not built on slogans alone. It is built on policies that ease financial strain, communities that replace judgment with understanding, and a culture that sees dignity before diagnosis. This National Autism Consciousness Week, the challenge is simple and profound. Listen to families. Learn from their realities. And choose to build a country where inclusion is not explained, but practiced.

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About the Research: These findings are based on "A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of families of children with autism in the Philippines" (Reyes & Domingo, 2024/2025) and "Parenting Stress and Resilience in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review" (Ilias et al., 2018).

20/01/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺! 🎉

We are proud to celebrate our program officers' commitment to continuous learning and professional growth:

👏 𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙍𝙋𝙢, 𝘾𝙃𝙍𝘼
Certified Human Resource Associate (2025)

👏 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙖, 𝙍𝙋𝙢, 𝘾𝙏𝙎𝙋
Certified Trauma Support Practitioner (2025)

Your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth reflects our shared dedication to quality service and excellence.

Well done!

19/01/2026

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁

Mental health advocacy knows no boundaries! This year, our internship program reached new heights by welcoming a diverse group of future mental health professionals from across the Philippines. 🇵🇭💙

We are proud to have hosted interns from various regions, bringing together unique perspectives and a shared passion for service:

📍 Cebu & Bohol: Our dedicated students from University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Technological University, Cebu Normal University, and Holy Name University.
📍 Region VI (Western Visayas): Bringing expertise from the College of St. John - Roxas.
📍 Region VIII (Eastern Visayas): Represented by the talented students of Samar State University.
📍 Region X (Northern Mindanao): Impactful contributions from Central Mindanao University.

What made this batch special? Beyond the numbers, this internship was a melting pot of ideas. Our interns traveled from their home provinces to engage in:
✅ Community-Based Clinical Work: Bringing mental health services to underserved LGUs.
✅ Diverse Fieldwork: From psychological debriefings to group dynamics activities.
✅ Collaborative Learning: Building a nationwide network of future mental health professionals.

To our 2025 Batch: You didn't just fulfill your hours; you expanded our reach. Whether you came from the highlands of Bukidnon, the coasts of Samar, or the heart of the Visayas, your impact has left a lasting mark on the communities we serve.

Thank you for being part of our mission to make mental health a reality for all, everywhere! 🕊️