Parents Academy: Cebu City sends parents to school for kids' mental health

CEBU CITY, Philippines — In a unique bid to address the growing psychological struggles of local students, Cebu City plans to send parents back to the classroom through a proposed “Parents Academy” aimed at strengthening family dynamics and communication.

The initiative is part of a broader legislative push by the Cebu City Council to institutionalize a permanent Mental Health Council via a local ordinance, ensuring school-based mental health programs survive changes in political leadership.

Councilor Michelle Abella Celona, chairperson of the Cebu City Council’s Committee on Health, said city officials and mental health stakeholders reached the agreement during a recent consultative meeting convened following discussions on improving school safety and student welfare.

“We were also talking about the legislative side. We will institutionalize the Mental Health Council para mahigtan nga bisan kinsa pa nga leader molingkod, masustain gyud siya (to ensure that regardless of who sits in office, the program will continue),” Celona said in an interview.

READ: 7 counselors for 107 schools: Mental health gap exposed in Cebu City

She said the proposal would form part of the city’s strategic planning scheduled later this month.

Permanent mechanism

Celona said the proposed council would serve as the city’s coordinating body for mental health policies, programs, and interventions, allowing Cebu City to sustain initiatives beyond the term of any single administration.

The council also plans to anchor future programs on research rather than assumptions.

During the consultative meeting, a psychologist volunteered to lead a study that would assess the mental health needs of students across Cebu City schools.

The research will produce a database that will guide the city’s mental health interventions.

“Once we have data, it will serve as the basis for training trainers who will handle mental health concerns and for developing manuals that schools can use,” Celona said.

READ: New counselor posts boost school mental health services – Angara

She said the manuals would provide practical guidance on responding to bullying, peer pressure, parental pressure, domestic violence, stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns affecting learners.

Parents, teachers included

The city also plans to expand the initiative beyond students by developing separate manuals for parents and creating a “Parents Academy.”

Under the proposal, parents will attend a series of modules designed to strengthen parenting skills and improve communication within families.

Sessions will initially take place in schools before expanding to barangays to accommodate parents unable to attend campus-based activities.

READ: No phone ban yet: Cebu City eyes metal detectors, student mental health

“We will invite parents to undergo several modules to enhance their capacity to parent effectively,” Celona said.

The city also intends to develop mental health response protocols for teachers, non-teaching personnel, and first responders to help them recognize and properly address students experiencing emotional or psychological distress.

Curriculum review sought

Another recommendation calls for requesting the Department of Education (DepEd) to revisit portions of the school curriculum to include practical mental health education.

Celona said students should receive more than classroom presentations.

READ: DepEd taps parents, guardians for school mental health programs

Instead, schools should teach children practical ways to recognize and cope with stress, anxiety, depression, bullying, and other emotional challenges.

The city also plans to encourage private schools and universities to adopt public schools and barangays to help expand community-based mental health programs.

Family dynamics

Celona said consultations pointed to family dynamics as one of the major factors contributing to children’s mental health struggles.

She clarified that the discussions did not intend to blame parents but recognized the realities facing many Filipino families.

“Rooted gyud siya sa family dynamics. Mao gyud major. This is not to blame parents (It is largely rooted in family dynamics. That is the major factor. This is not meant to blame parents),” she said.

She noted that rising living costs often require both parents to work, leaving less time for meaningful interaction with their children.

As a result, many children turn to social media instead of communicating with family members.

“If children become accustomed to being emotionally disconnected at home, we will see many problems manifest in schools,” she said.

Another proposal raised during the consultations seeks to engage Cebu City-based vloggers, bloggers, and administrators of Facebook pages in promoting responsible online behavior.

Celona said the city hoped to develop guidelines encouraging responsible posting, recognizing the influence of social media on young audiences.

“There should be protocols because posts can create a domino effect,” she said.

Growing gap

The proposed Mental Health Council builds on earlier efforts by the Cebu City government to strengthen student mental health following the June 22 school shooting in Tacloban City.

Earlier, Councilor Paul Labra disclosed that only 11 registered guidance counselors currently serve around 120 public elementary and high schools in Cebu City, forcing some teachers to assume counseling duties despite lacking specialized training.

City officials have since worked with psychologists, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, educators, the Department of Education, and law enforcement agencies to develop a comprehensive school safety program that combines campus security measures with preventive mental health interventions.

The proposed ordinance seeks to institutionalize those efforts and provide a permanent framework for the city’s long-term mental health programs.

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