Mental health awareness plays a vital role in recovering from trauma. Survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence frequently suffer from mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress. Without proper knowledge and support, these issues can become debilitating and impair the quality of life for those who have experienced trauma. However, mental health services are limited and highly stigmatized in the Philippines. Most interventions are costly, overemphasize clinical mental health, and rely on the availability of specialists, who are extremely limited in number and often not accessible to marginalized communities.
Eleison’s Community Mental Health (CMH) programming provides survivors with accessible and culturally sensitive mental health services in safe, trusted community-based settings. As part of our CMH program, we conduct Community Mental Health Education (CMHE) sessions with survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, their families, and community partners. Our CMHE program offers continuous mental health support to survivors and service providers, equipping them with concrete tools to nurture their emotional well-being. Through the interactive learning sessions, we raise awareness and provide practical applications for promoting mental health and emotional wellness.
In February 2023, the Salvation Army Visayas Island Division invited Eleison to facilitate a discussion on emotional management at a youth camp attended by over 200 youth throughout the Visayas Region of the Philippines. The CMHE session equipped participants with strategies to recognize and manage their emotions. It involved interactive activities and discussions to enhance the understanding of emotional management among the youth. The session described how everyone experiences a range of emotions and how acknowledging them is important, particularly in knowing how to respond to situations and engaging in self-regulation techniques, such as breathing exercises. The discussion was resoundingly successful, with participants expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to gain new ways to take control of their emotions. A participant stated:
“I liked how they encouraged us to seek help because there are times when we can no longer handle it on our own, and we need someone to rely on sometimes. I want to thank them [Eleison] because I understood further that I am not alone. Sometimes, I need to pour out my emotions rather than being alone and scared, which can cause the problem to worsen.”
Another participant said:
“The Eleison Foundation’s presentation was a good reminder of how important managing emotions is. I like how they taught us about the different unhealthy and healthy defense mechanisms we could apply in our daily lives. They are relatable, and they apply to us as students.”
If you’d like to learn more about Eleison’s CMHE sessions or if you’re interested in having CMHE activities at your organization, email us at info@eleisonfoundation.org or message us here.
