A MENTAL health program primarily designed to make it as well as wellness support accessible to all students from both public and private schools in Valenzuela City has been launched, Mayor Wes Gatchalian revealed.
Called Panatag Mental Health program, it marked a step forward in the city government’s ongoing commitment to making all these support and mental assistance more available to ‘Valenzuelanos,’ with a particular focus on students.
Developed in partnership with Mindscapes by PhilCare, the program functions as a comprehensive one-stop hub for mental health and wellness services, designed with a strong emphasis on streamlining the customer journey while ensuring the highest standards of data security and privacy.
Services offered include psychological consultations, nutritionist and social worker assessments, MindCheck screenings, and round‑the‑clock MS Chat and Helpline support, according to the local government.
“More importantly, the program extends its coverage to dependents and other household members, broadening the scope of support beyond the individual student and into the wider community,” Gatchalia said.
The city government said that in order to avail of the mental health services, students are required to register using email accounts provided by Mindscapes.
A cornerstone of the initiative would be the establishment of mental health hubs on the campuses of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela and Valenzuela Technological College.
The dedicated spaces were designed to offer students a safe and approachable environment where they could seek appropriate mental health support right within their school premises.
Complementing the physical hubs is the program’s 24/7 MS Chat and Helpline support, which guarantees beneficiaries access to immediate, confidential, and compassionate assistance whenever they need someone to listen, offer guidance, or help them navigate their concerns.
“We can’t bring back the lives we have lost. But we can ensure that when the next young person says, ‘I am no longer okay,’ there’ll be someone to listen. Someone to help. Someone to lean on.’
” That’s why it’s not enough to simply say, ‘We’re here for you.’ We must ensure that they have a real place to turn to,” the city chief executive added.
