DFA Consular Office in Davao City Conducts Webinar on Mental Health Care During the Pandemic 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in Davao City personnel attend a webinar entitled, “Taking Care of My Mental Health During the Pandemic” with Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja, PhD, RPsy as Resource Speaker, on 03 October 2020. (Davao CO photo)

DAVAO CITY 07 October 2020 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in Davao City held a special webinar entitled “Taking Care of My Mental Health During the Pandemic” via Google Meet on 03 October 2020, with Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja, PhD, RPsy as the resource speaker.

During the webinar, Dr. Tarroja discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic, along with public health measures such as social distancing, affects a person’s mental health. She shared the iCOPE strategy in taking care of one’s health by having a Compassionate Heart, Open Mind, Purposeful Spirit, and Engaging Body.  She emphasized the benefits of self-care and the importance of planning and conducting self-care activities for a healthy mind and body.

In her closing remarks, Consular Office Officer-in-Charge Delza Lourdes D. Bayabao said that it is important to stay informed, stay connected with family and friends, look after one’s self and support each other to be able to cope during these difficult times.  She thanked Dr. Tarroja for a very interesting and informative webinar and for sharing ways on how to take care of mental health that will truly benefit the personnel at work and at home.

The activity was organized by the Consular Office’s Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point Officer Leila W. Fabian-Sulit, together with Alternate GAD FPO Karen G. Margallo as Moderator. The Resource Speaker, Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja, PhD, RPsy, is Vice President of the Psychological Empowerment to Resources and Aspirations, Inc.  She is the former President of the Psychological Association of the Philippines and was awarded 2016 PAP Outstanding Psychologist. END

Official poster of the webinar. (Davao CO photo)