Manay Gina’s mental health advocacy hailed
A foremost Filipino clinical psychologist and national social scientist hailed former Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia for including mental health in her platform as she seeks to return to her old post in the May 12 elections.
Dr. Lourdes Carandang, popularly known as Dr. Honey Carandang, said Mrs. De Venecia is the only candidate who genuinely recognizes the importance of mental wellness.
“Sobrang importante ito sa panahong ito. Matagal ko nang hinihintay ito,” said Carandang, a child and family therapist as well as clinical psychologist for the past 50 years.
In De Venecia’s new platform ‘LOVE’, the letter O stands for Overall Mental Health, which covers the development of comprehensive programs that focus not only on physical health but also on the mental and emotional well-being.
Carandang said addressing mental wellness through government policies and programs has become critical, noting the unprecedented rise in the incidence of mental health concerns, like anxiety, depression and suicide, especially among the young.
Dr. Michael Romero, executive manager of the Pangasinan chapter of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) based in Dagupan, also acknowledged the significant support of De Venecia for mental health over the years.
He noted her role in helping establish the building for PMHA Pangasinan chapter and her ongoing efforts to bring mental health to the forefront of public discourse, an advocacy that her son, outgoing Rep. Christopher de Venecia has been supporting. (Leonardo Micua)
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