During the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu’s recent midterm season, students struggling to cope led the Communicators of UP, an academic organization of Communication students, to set a mental health check-up session with an expert.
“Many students were physically and mentally exhausted. The faculty had even received or observed feedback from students expressing stress and burnout,” event head Erna Bonsukan shared. The session centered on how to manage stress effectively through group discussions and collaborative activities.
A month has passed since the session and students continue to apply the tips they learned to avoid burnout, like Communication freshman Jana Puerto who shared how she now better manages herself in stressful situations:
“I learned that my brain works better when it’s not extremely tired and overworked, so it’s important to rest from time to time — especially now during finals when there’s so much to pass and comply with.”
From family and finances to school workload, UP Cebu’s Guidance Service Specialist Dr. Annabelle Maglasang shared that many students are challenged with personal and academic responsibilities. “Among all compounded concerns, burnout is the number one reason why the students struggle,” she said.
A student-led survey from Saint Louis College-Cebu last March showed that 95 percent of the students in three Cebu–based schools experience mental health problems due to academic stress.
Amid this growing issue among young adults, educational institutions have implemented different initiatives to help their students cope.
Why accessible mental health care is essential
In 2024, UP Cebu hired Marc Maceda and Jennifer Bagazin as the school’s resident psychologists. Among the problems students consult them for, academic pressure and interpersonal issues are the most common.
“Issues about courses, personal careers and relationships are part of our formative years, which is why accessible help is really needed,” Maceda said.
Both Bagazin and Maceda offer free psychotherapy and counseling sessions, which students and staff can book through email, or referrals from the university’s Guidance Services Specialists. Their shared office is open Monday to Friday.
Over the few months since they started their services, Bagazin has worked with at most 12 students per week, while Maceda has had at least 60 clients in total. More than half are returnees, highlighting the need for consistent counseling.
“Therapy does not happen in just one session. It’s a long process,” Bagazin shared.
Their availability on campus and no-charge services make it easier for students to access the help they need, especially with private practices costing a lot of money.
One therapy session in private clinics can cost at least P1,000 on average, which may be over budget for the scholars who comprise the majority of the university’s population. Students also emphasized how the presence of resident psychologists provides a sense of security whenever they need someone to share their feelings with.
Aside from psychotherapy, both psychologists perform assessments to provide mental health certifications needed when a student wishes to file for a Leave of Absence. They also determine if a client needs psychiatric aid and referrals. The university currently has ties with one public hospital and several private clinics specializing in mental health services.
How existing barriers are addressed
While these efforts have helped make mental health care more accessible to students, the services offered are only limited to therapy and assessments.
Moreover, with nearly 2,000 students and staff to accommodate, the two resident psychologists face challenges in managing consultation schedules and documentation during sessions — leading to heavier workloads over time.
“Ideally, there should be a 1:500 student-to-school psychologist ratio to prevent burnout among our professionals,” said Dr. Glenda Basubas, psychiatrist and head of the Philippine Mental Health Association Cebu Chapter.
To ease their work, the resident psychologists often collaborate with the university’s Guidance Services Specialists. There are four of them designated to one college each.
At present, the university allocates financial aid for students with psychological and psychiatric needs. The Student Wellness Subsidy Program is a systemwide project that offers P7,500 per semester for bona fide UP students advised to seek professional treatment and medication.
What the bigger picture looks like
The lack of mental health services in the Philippines can be seen in the shortage of specialists and budget, which stems from the negative perception surrounding mental health.
“Stigma is the number one reason why we aren’t seeing much development in our facilities and services. Not only does this limit our budget but also discourage people from availing mental health care,” Dr. Basubas said.
One way to fight this stigma is to make mental health services more normalized in the community, especially in schools where students are more vulnerable to psychological concerns such as depression and anxiety.
On May 12, 2025, the Cebu City Council approved an ordinance that mandates a mental health awareness seminar workshop program in the city’s public schools, along with modular seminars for graduating students.
City Ordinance 2770, authored by Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, aims to counter the stigma surrounding mental health through educational intervention.
By having psychological help within reach in schools, public hospitals with mental health services can also ease their burden. The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, in particular, sees over 100 patients per day.
Students are also afforded the necessary access to mental health care essential not only for learning but also for holistic development. As Dr. Basubas stressed: “Everything is interconnected. There is no health without mental health.”