Last July 8 – 10, 2026, Ateneo de Manila University, in partnership with Ateneo Bulatao Center and RenewHealth Philippines, hosted 19 delegates from different Jesuit institutions in the Asia Pacific region for a three-day training of trainers for a school-based mental health program. This initiative is in response to the AJCU mental health survey, highlighting growing needs to establish systems of support for students.

Institutions present were Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Sanata Dharma University, Sophia University, and The Beijing Center For Chinese Studies.

For the first half, trainees participated in plenary discussions on mental health literacy and prevalence, protocols on school-based mental health, suicide literacy and screening, and basic mental health first aid. This served as their psychoeducational foundation for their simulations in the second half of the training. Each trainee was assigned one of eight modules in the school-based mental health program. The cohort was divided into three groups for the simulations, with one facilitator from the Ateneo Bulatao Center serving as both their coach and evaluator.

After the small-group demonstrations, Dr. Ma. Regina Hechqnova Alampay led the implementation planning for the school-based mental health program. Trainees discussed their main takeaways from the experience. Moreover, they brought up initial plans to use the modules as well as the support they will need in the future, which included follow-up online sessions and keeping in touch with their cohort.

Participants highly rated the experience, highlighting the importance of the psychoeducational plenary discussions, evidence-based modules, and facilitator feedback during simulations.