"Our role is to recognize, respond and refer.”
These were the words of Ms. Maria Kathleen Divina, RPm, resource speaker during the H.E.A.L (Helping Educator Act for Life) Suicide Prevention Awareness Campain for Mental Health Responders, capacitating faculty members from different Colleges as suicide prevention frontliners in their respective areas.
Representatives from the six Colleges at the MinSU Victoria Campus gathered on September 4, 2026 at the University Board Room to gain practical insights on acting as a frontliner for student support. The activity capacitated the attendees on how to recognize signs of distress among students which could lead to mental health emergencies and how to respond to them.
The first part of the activity highlighted the Ms. Divina’s discussion on Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs, which opened the floor to the participants who shared their encounters with their students facing similar mental health problems.
The speaker underscored that as educators, their role is to recognize the warning signs of mental health problems and suicidal thoughts among their student; respond effectively to each student; and promptly referring them to experts such as the Guidance Office for proper intervention.
The second discussion was given by Ms. Heidelita G. Bumohya, Ph.D., RGC, Guidance Counselor III of MinSu Victoria Campus Guidance Office. She highlighted recognizing the unseen struggle of the students that can only be noticed through direct communication. During her talk, she underlined the role of teachers as gatekeepers of students from harboring suicidal thoughts and attempts.
At the end of the activity, faculty members were enlightened with proper knowledge in recognizing their students’ needs and struggles as early as possible and the proper approaches to be conducted.
The HEAL Program is a flagship activity of the MinSU Victoria Campus Guidance Office, empowering educators as a frontline defense for suicide prevention and awareness campaign within the MinSU community. (kpic)
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