PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur – Realizing the importance of mental health to every individual, especially to the elderly who were mostly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted the Training on Mental Health and Wellness for the Senior Citizens Batch 2 on March 16-18, 2022 at Hygeia IntegraMeds Center.

There were 25 individuals who participated from the municipalities of Prosperidad, San Francisco, Talacogon, Rosario, and the City of Bayugan.

The three-day activity aims to explain the importance of mental health on every individual specifically how stress affects one’s daily life; identify mental health issues, illness, and disorders; and to enumerate emotional well-being and stress-reducing practices.

Michael John B. Andohuyan, Social Welfare Officer II from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Caraga, discussed the topic of stress and its coping mechanisms on its first day and self-awareness on the second day.

Participants also took part in a zumba fitness activity and visited GJ’s Rabbit Farm and Hosea Integrated Farm both located in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

“We cannot deny that the senior citizens were greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This training gave us time to re-evaluate ourselves on the stress we have experienced and made us realize if our response to it was right or wrong. I appreciated this activity because it reminded us, seniors, that even with old age, the society and our government still cared for us and designed an activity such as this,” said Elena D. Polestico, one of the participants.

The said training was implemented in partnership with the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office (PAVO) and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Agusan del Sur.