Living in a country prone to the risks and hazards of natural disasters, it is more critical than ever to ensure that any disaster preparedness plans should include frontliners who are well-trained not just in dealing with the physical impact of calamities but in mental health interventions. Readiness is key to reducing the risk of disasters by equipping more people, especially community leaders and responders, with skills to extend help in fostering mental and emotional resilience of community members experiencing the impact of the disaster or crisis over an extended period of time.
This was the goal of In Touch Community Services (ITCS) when it recently partnered with the Center for Disaster Preparedness to conduct a training on Mental Health and Psychospiritual Support (MHPSS) in Disaster Risk Reduction for the church workers and other community servants of the United Methodist Church-Pampanga District in Magalang, Pampanga.
The ITCS training program, called, “Kumustahan”, is a resilience-based mental health and psychosocial-spiritual support (MHPSS) group intervention conducted as a means of promoting a better adaptation of the individual from the impact of a lingering adverse situation. They were taught capacity as church and community servants when responding to the immediate need of people in times of disaster or crisis. The two-day program was focused on building the disaster or crisis-readiness capacity of participating district superintendents, reverends, pastors and deaconesses and improving the quality of response to the immediate needs of their communities.
Video Testimonial from attendee Lestie Cancio
The Kumustahan is just one of the various outreach programs that In Touch is offering to communities nationwide as part of its advocacy for Mental Heath education.
Are you interested in our Kumustahan MHPSS Training?
Visit our Community Support Program page to learn more!
We are pleased to announce that our Penelope Case Management system is now LIVE.
In Touch has specially designed the training to ensure takeaways included learning different tools that will help trainees provide a safe space for people to work out their stressors and learn the benefits of workplace counseling.
Kindly be advised that In Touch Community Services will be operating at a limited capacity during the holiday season (December 18 – January 1).
Keeping In Touch: (from left) In Touch Head of Psychological Services Unit Dr. Julian Montano, Mental Health Services Lead Myrtle Almando, US Embassy Medical Unit rep Mimi Thein, US EMU Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrist Andrea Ross, In Touch Executive Director Mike Calleja, In Touch Foreign Liaison Program relationship managers Marielle Mikkelsen and Daisy Pope-Brien.
The ITCS training program, called, “Kumustahan”, is a resilience-based mental health and psychosocial-spiritual support (MHPSS) group intervention conducted as a means of promoting a better adaptation of the individual from the impact of a lingering adverse situation.
For any immediate or in-the-moment emotional support, call our 24/7 CRISIS LINE. Our professionally trained responders are on standby to assist you.
