4 August 2020, Calgary – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary held on 31 July 2020 its second Online Forum Education Series titled “The Blue Elephant in the Room: Understanding Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic”  featuring Dr. Daisy Ann Jabido-Artuz, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Alberta Health Services.

 

During the session, Filipino-Canadian Dr. Jabido-Artuz explained two central concepts in psychiatry, namely mental health and mental illness. She elaborated on the signs of psychological distress and the different stress reactions. Touching on psychopathology, she gave pointers on when one should seek professional help.

 

Dr. Jabido-Artuz also described the various stages of grief experienced by those suffering from mental health and the different coping strategies to manage stress.

 

The online forum was done via Zoom and broadcasted live on PCG’s Facebook page.

 

The online forum education series is part of the PCG’s Gender and Development (GAD) Program that aims to highlight the roles of Filipino men and women in the family, at work, and in the society.  It is also the PCG’s way of reaching out to the Filipino community in Alberta and Saskatchewan by discussing issues and concerns affecting the Filipino community.

 

In his welcome remarks, Consul General Zaldy Patron highlighted the importance of talking about the “blue elephant” in the room as people continue to navigate life and work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

On 27 June 2020, the PCG also co-sponsored a webinar titled “Overcoming Mental Stress During the Pandemic” with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Vancouver.