PH Consulate General in Calgary Holds Online Forum on Understanding Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron (left) and Dr. Daisy Ann Jabido-Artuz (right) during the online forum.

CALGARY 05 August 2020 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary held 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 on 31 July 2020.

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.

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 Consulate General’s Facebook page.

The online forum education series is part of the Consulate General’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 Consulate General’s way of reaching out to the Filipino community in Alberta and Saskatchewan by discussing issues and concerns affecting the Filipino community.

On 27 June 2020, the Consulate General 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. END

For more information, visit https://www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.