BFP Cordillera HSS Mental Health Unit

11/11/2025

03/11/2025

│ 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲: 𝗕𝗙𝗣-𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

In celebration of World Mental Health Month, themed “Access to Services - Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”, the BFP-CAR, through its Health Service Section led by FCINSP RHAPSODY N PADDUYAO, joined 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗧.𝗔.𝗟.𝗔.𝗪. (𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 – 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀): 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

Held on October 24, 2025 at the Benguet State University Elementary School Grounds, the event gathered advocates, students, and professionals from various government agencies and academic institutions. They stood as one community as they lighted candles to honor resilience, promote mental well-being, and strengthen the collective call to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

Each flame flickering in the evening air symbolized hope and solidarity. The simple yet powerful gesture reminded everyone that even in the darkest moments, compassion and courage can bring light to those who struggle silently.

Through its participation, BFP-CAR reaffirmed its commitment to promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being among its personnel and the communities it serves, recognizing that healing begins when individuals come together with understanding and empathy.

The activity was organized by the Peer Advocates Cordillera, a coalition of peer support and advocacy groups from Baguio and Benguet dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and building a culture of care throughout the region.

23/10/2025

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are working to add mental health efforts into their disaster response plans.

Link to the article in the comments section.

22/10/2025

Don't miss our webinar describing how youth from one Lower Mainland community support their wellness and will be followed by a Q&A session with the researcher and a UBC student who is a youth from the community! Happening November 4th at 10am! Register here and learn more: https://buff.ly/7RpdWkU

15/10/2025

│ 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗛𝗣𝗦𝗦 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗙𝗣-𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

The Health Service Section (HSS), under the leadership of FCINSP RHAPSODY N PADDUYAO, successfully conducted the webinar “Digital CaRE: Optimizing Virtual Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)” on October 10, 2025, via Zoom, for the Coping and Resilience Enhancement (CaRE) Team.

Aligned with the 2025 World Mental Health Day theme, “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” the activity aimed to strengthen the delivery of MHPSS interventions by enhancing the capacity of CaRE Team members to utilize online platforms in reaching personnel in need of psychosocial support.

The webinar featured Dr. Irene T. Alcantara, Registered Guidance Counselor, and Ms. Chloe Neziah B. Mandac, Registered Psychologist, who discussed the principles, ethics, and best practices of providing gender-sensitive and inclusive MHPSS online, along with self-care strategies for CaRE Team members.

Through this initiative, the BFP-CAR continues to advance its mission of promoting, protecting, and restoring the mental health and well-being of its personnel, ensuring that mental health support remains accessible and responsive even in times of crisis and physical distance.

14/10/2025

10/10/2025

Nakikiisa ang Kawanihan ng Pamatay Sunog sa paggunita ng World Mental Health Day. Sama-sama nating pangalagaan ang kalusugang pangkaisipan para sa mas ligtas at mas maayos na pamayanan.

01/10/2025

│ 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

This Mental Health Month, BFP-CAR embraces the theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies” and inspires everyone to take a step toward mental wellness by asking for help when it’s needed most.

It’s okay to ask for help. Just scan the QR code or connect with us through this form: https://forms.gle/uVfcj2y77bf8CMtX7.

‼️𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝟬𝟵𝟲𝟮 𝟰𝟱𝟴 𝟰𝟮𝟯𝟳.

25/09/2025

│ 𝗛𝗦𝗦 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

The Health Service Section, under the leadership of FCINSP RHAPSODY N PADDUYAO, spearheaded the Mental Health Onboard orientation for squad leaders of the Onboarding Program 2025 at the BFP-CAR Benguet Provincial Office on September 25, 2025.

The orientation aimed to equip squad leaders with the skills to identify, intervene, and refer fire apprentices who may be experiencing significant psychological distress during training. It also highlighted effective approaches to engaging apprentices in conversations about mental health. The session concluded with a reminder on the importance of self-care in helping squad leaders regulate their own emotions.

In line with BFP MC No. 2025-015, or the 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘹-𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 1 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘍𝘗, the Health Service Section reaffirmed its support for cultivating a psychologically safe training environment while developing in apprentices the skills and attitudes vital to the fire service.

10/09/2025

│ 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆

When we speak openly about su***de with care and understanding, we plant seeds of hope. And where there is hope, there is life.

You don’t have to go through it alone. Talk to us.

📱𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟬𝟵𝟲𝟮 𝟰𝟱𝟴 𝟰𝟮𝟯𝟳
📧𝗕𝗙𝗣-𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗖𝗮𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: 𝗿𝗵𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

24/07/2025

│𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆!

With all the responsibilities we carry this red alert season as firefighters, it’s no surprise that rest often takes a back seat. But 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹!

Self-care includes practical steps to improve your health and well-being, no matter how small they seem. While on station standby, something as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee while reflecting on the good things that happened earlier in the day can help foster a positive mindset. ☕🌱

Take a moment to reflect on how you can practice self-care both on and off duty. Here are a few ideas to get started:

🟢 Aim for at least 2.5 hours of physical exercise each week;
🟢 Choose and follow a healthier, well-balanced diet;
🟢 Check in with your mental health regularly; and
🟢 Cut back on or quit alcohol, to***co, and other vices.

Self-care can be practiced “24 hours a day/ 7 days a week’. Make it a habit. ☺️

Reference:
World Health Organization (2025). Self-Care Month 2025. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/06/24/default-calendar/self-care-month-2025