Intensifying its mental health awareness program for its students, Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), through its Guidance and Counseling Services Office, conducted Peer Facilitator’s Training Program held at BiPSU Hostel on April 27-29.

The three-day training aimed at molding and grooming students to become extension arm of the guidance and counseling office in providing assistance and psychosocial support services for their fellow students.

In his message during the opening of the activity, Dr. Victor C. Cañezo Jr. reiterated that the University will continue to work on ensuring that all its students are mentally healthy.

“Useless lahat ng pinaghirapan ng university, ng students, ng mga faulty, and the administration if our students are mentally disturbed [The efforts of the university, the students, the faculty, and the administration if our students are mentally disturbed],” Dr. Cañezo added. 

He also said that the  training program is important and timely especially during this time of the pandemic.

Moreover, peer counselors are students selected by the school guidance coordinators who are willing to extend help to students needing psychological support, and at the same time assist their school guidance coordinators in the implementation of the guidance and counseling services.

According to the University Guidance Counselor Mrs. Jocelyn C. Caing, training peer counselors is very important and relevant especially to the guidance and counseling services office.

“Very important ang ilang role because there are students who cannot open up their problems to their teacher or to their guidance counselors, yet they feel comfortable talking it out with their peers,” she added.

Attendees of the said event include guidance services specialist II Ms. Rhea Lina J. Saavedra, university guidance counselor Mrs. Jocelyn Caing, chairperson of the guidance and counseling services office Mrs. Maria Corazon Napalit, and the guidance coordinators and selected peer counselors from the different schools of BiPSU.