May is Mental Awareness Month. Mental health is given its recognition across the country and has increasingly become the center of attention within the society. With so many concerns and issues, mental health is making quite a bustle in the present days. Northeastern Mindanao Mission (NEMM), under the supervision of the NEMM Health Director Pastor Lonie Cena, together with the Adventist Mental Health Association (AMHA), implemented a seminar to recognize the importance of mental well-being and its real definition. It took place at NEMM Conference Hall, Baan 3, Butuan City last May 6, 2024. The workshop is five days long— each day is loaded with different topics with different resource speakers.
Pastor Teddy Ba-ang, SWPUC Health Ministries Director, a prominent mental health adviser, as the introductory speaker, took mental health to the next step by emphasizing that mental health matters and its interpretations. Mental Awareness Month is significant for Pastor Teddy Ba-ang. The foreground of his presentation was the introduction of mental health and mental illnesses including depression. He mentioned that the church, the members and even the pastors should be given mental health support and wellness. “Even the greatest characters— the people in the bible that was mentioned suffered and experienced such depressions.” He indicated depression and faith. How faith can be a protective factor against depression.
As the program persisted, the arrival day ended for all intents and purposes. Today’s awareness is educating people to mental health, eliminate the stigma and reduce the rates of suicide. Setting attainable starting points towards a thriving mental well-being and creating a healthier community. Ministry in mental health, “You can be an oak of righteousness, you can display His splendor.” Pastor Ba-ang added. And it will all start in a sound mind. (By Jeia Napalan, News Writer, Comm. Dept.)
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