By Emma Celine Salsona

BECED Gems, in collaboration with the SNED Society, hosted the seminar “Invest in Your Mental Health: Empowering Students through Mental Health Awareness” at CPU’s Educational Media Center on October 27, 2025, where Dr. Joel M. Durban guided nearly 200 students and teachers on mental health disorders, coping strategies, self-care, and the power of simple acts of kindness.

On October 27, 2025, the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECED) Gems spearheaded a seminar in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. The seminar entitled “Invest in Your Mental Health: Empowering Students through Mental Health Awareness” was held at the Educational Media Center (EMC).

The event aimed to promote mental and emotional well-being among education students and emphasize mental health as a shared responsibility.  The event was made meaningful with the cooperation of the SNED Society. Participants included a total of almost 200 students and teachers from the College of Education and members of the Senior High School Student Council.

Dr. Joel M. Durban, a faculty member from the College of Education and also the Program Chair of the Special Needs Education (SNED), was the seminar’s resource speaker. The talk tackled various topics on mental health, which included mental health disorders, causes and triggers, and risks. Moreover, it covered recommended coping strategies on how to overcome the recurring reality surrounding a student’s mental health. Dr. Durban also emphasized the value of self-care and the importance of seeking family, teacher, peer, or professional support.  The students’ awareness of mental health was deepened when they were presented with simple but powerful gestures and acts of kindness that they can show to their fellow students, which can potentially empower or save someone who is fighting silent battles.

Dr. Durban ended his presentation with a quote attributed to Abraham Maslow, which served as a helpful reminder to everyone: “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”  This suggests that when people depend solely on one approach to solve problems, they risk missing out on other possible solutions and viewpoints.

The CPU BECEd Gems is set to spearhead similar initiatives and meaningful advocacies in the future with its commitment to CPU’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The seminar on mental health aligned meaningfully with SDGs 3, 4, 10, and 16 – Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, and Peace, Justice, Reduced Inequalities, and Strong Institutions, respectively.