Inner Wheel Club D383, GSP, MPH drive mental health awareness in schools

Girl Scout leaders from various schools in Metro Manila rise up and roar loud their signature chant and hand gesture as they take on their leadership role in the mental health awareness campaign inside campuses.

In response to the increasing violent, even fatal, incidents inside classrooms and schools, the Inner Wheel Club District 383 teamed up with the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) and Metro Pacific Health – Corporate Social Responsibility (MPH-CSR) through De Los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC) to drive a proactive approach to address the issue.

In a summit held last September 6, 2025 at the GSP headquarters in Manila entitled “Girls’ Advocacy for Balance, Awareness and Youth Wellness,” 50 girl scout leaders from different schools in Metro Manila took the lead to drive a student-empowered advocacy on mental health inside campuses.

The ten presidents under the Inner Wheel District 3830 composed of chapters from Muntinlupa, Makati, Paranaque, Taguig, and Las Pinas, representatives from Neuroscience Center of DLSMC, and MPH-CSR rallied the girl scout leaders to become active partner and advocates for a safe, nurturing and thriving environment in schools.

In her talk, Dr. Ma. Anne Cristine Guevarra of DLSMC delved into the complex web of social stigma, shrouded silence, sugarcoated strains, even seeming sweet smile, among many other red flags that may be present inside campus setting. She presided over a comprehensive lecture ranging from unwrapping the mysteries and misconceptions to laying down the mending strategies of the mind of the youth.

The discussion drew eager ears, elicited unspoken questions and opened many eyes on the realization confronting mental health issues among today’s young generation. Although mostly under recognized, acknowledging mental health issues as a critical component of one’s overall wellness leads to the improvement, even saving, of lives. All three summit proponents of the activity vowed fighting the invisible battle inside the mind of the youth towards building a stronger and more resilient future generation.