Breaking the Silence: Project Stigma Launches Nationwide Mental Health Campaign at UP Diliman

“Each and every one—the persons here in TPN—they know somebody personally suffering from the many aforementioned mental conditions.” 

This was how Corporate Lawyer and Spokesperson Atty. Gilbert Flor Lauengco described The Platform News team and our connection to the recently launched initiative.

Project Stigma is a mental health education and advocacy campaign spearheaded by TPN in partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs – Office of Student Development Services (OVPAA-OSDS) of the University of the Philippines, which was officially launched last July 8, 2025, at the Oblation Lounge of the University Hotel in UP Diliman. 

The program opened with remarks from UP Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Ms. Shari Niña Oliquino, then with a message of support from University of the Philippines President Mr. Angelo A. Jimenez, who emphasized the importance of student mental health.

Entitled “Project Stigma: A Mental Health Awareness Campaign – A Day of Standing Up for Mental Health,” featured a variety of speakers across the spectrum of mental health.

Health Education and Promotion Officer III and Head of the Public Health Unit of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), Atty. Jose Marie P. Iporac spoke about the importance of government-led mental health services, while Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Vice President Walter R. Bacareza touched on how mental health concerns affect even PhilHealth’s employees.  

He also shared details on the agency’s expanded mental health service coverage, including medications.

Meanwhile, Philippine Psychiatric Association President Dr. Joan Mae Perez-Rifareal, MD, FPPA, shared her insights on the topic, “The Invisible Chains: How Stigma Affects Lives and Help-Seeking,” and broke down the different forms of mental illness, stigma, and the challenges people face in seeking care.

At the same time, Met Dong-as, Executive Director of the ADHD Society of the Philippines, offered personal and professional perspectives on living with neurodivergence.

On the policy and legislative side, Kabataan Party-list Representative Hon. Atty. Renee Co discussed current bills and ongoing efforts in Congress to improve access to mental health services.

An open forum followed, where panelists addressed questions from UP students on a wide range of topics from the university’s internal mental health declaration policies and student assistance programs, to government funding for mental health services in light of the upcoming national budget deliberations.

The program concluded with remarks from Atty. Lauengco emphasizing that Project Stigma is a personal cause for the members of The Platform News, as each team member has been directly affected by or connected to someone living with mental health challenges.