Exams, training, games, and for some, national team duty. Student-athletes carry a lot, and so do the classmates, alumni and coaches around them. Health app mWell says it is making mental health the focus of its partnership with the UAAP, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The program was reported by The Philippine Star on Oct. 8, and by The Manila Times, Daily Tribune and BusinessMirror from Oct. 9 to 11.
What Help Is Available
According to mWell, as reported by The Manila Times, users of the mWell app can:
- Take a quick check-in. The Mind Health Score is based on the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, a short five-question wellbeing questionnaire from the World Health Organization.
- Use free self-guided modules. These cover meditation, gratitude, self-reflection and setting mental health goals.
- Talk to a professional. The app offers one-on-one Mind Health consultations and access to mind health coaches.
The reports describe the self-guided modules as free. They don’t say how much the one-on-one consultations cost, so check the app before booking.
mWell is also promoting physical wellness with an mWellness Score that tracks exercise, steps, time spent sitting, and sleep, The Manila Times reported.
"You Don't Always Have To Put On A Brave Face"
“Today’s youth face a world where the pressure to keep up, succeed, and appear okay can feel overwhelming. Through our partnership with the UAAP, we want them to know that they don’t always have to put on a brave face,” mWell president and CEO Chaye Cabal-Revilla said, according to Daily Tribune and The Manila Times.
“Their feelings matter, and caring for their mind is just as important as caring for their body,” she added.
UAAP Season 89 president Mark Molina said the league is “a community of students, athletes, alumni, teachers, coaches, and supporters,” and that it wants to recognize “the importance of their overall well-being,” Daily Tribune reported.
UAAP executive director Rene Saguisag Jr. said “taking care of mental and physical well-being is just as important,” according to The Philippine Star.
Not A UAAP Student? Help Is Still There
You don’t need to be in the UAAP, or use any app, to get support. Your school’s guidance office is a good place to start. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline runs 24/7 at 1553 (toll-free nationwide from landlines) and 0917-899-8727.
Talking to someone you trust, whether a friend, a family member, a coach or a counselor, is a strong first step.
mWell is run by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp., part of the Metro Pacific group led by Manuel V. Pangilinan.
