University of Luzon Hosts 2025 Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program

The University of Luzon (UL) reaffirmed its strong commitment to the mental health and well-being of its academic community by hosting the annual Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month 2025 program in celebration of the global observance. Held on September 30, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 12:00 NN at the UL Library’s Third Floor (Periodical Section), the half-day event centered on the critical and sensitive theme, “Listening Beneath The Silence: Understanding and Responding to Self-Harm and Suicide Risk.” This timely gathering provided a vital platform for students, faculty, and staff to engage in essential discourse surrounding mental wellness, self-care, and community support systems, compelled to challenge misconceptions, break stigma, and foster meaningful conversations grounded in openness, compassion, and mutual support.

The program commenced with the official opening ceremonies, which were expertly presided over by the Master of Ceremonies, Guidance Designate Sharmaine Salome D. Lopez. Following an invocation and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the UL Hymn, which set a solemn yet hopeful tone for the proceedings, Margie D. Viado, RGC, RPm, CHRA, the Officer-in-Charge of the Guidance Center, delivered the opening remarks, underscoring the Guidance Center’s role as a safe harbor and emphasizing the university’s unwavering dedication to fostering a supportive environment free from mental health stigma. Following the formal introduction by Danjaco C. Delos Reyes, President of the Youth Peer Organization, the academic portion of the morning began.

The first major session, Plenary Talk 1, featured Camilla Franceska Zacheri D. Fernandez, Guidance Designate and Youth Peer Organization Adviser. Her presentation, titled “Understanding Suicide – Myths, Facts & Risk Factors,” provided Luzonians with crucial, evidence-based knowledge necessary to dispel common misconceptions about suicide and shed light on the psychological, emotional, and environmental risk factors that contribute to it. This session was designed to empower attendees to approach conversations about mental health with accuracy and sensitivity. Following a brief but energizing Ice Breaker Activity, the second resource speaker was introduced by Michelle Angela T. Santos, President of Psychenosi.

Plenary Talk 2 was led by Maria Czarina G. Caoile, Guidance Designate and Psychenosi Adviser, focusing on “Prevention Strategies & Building a Supportive Environment.” Ms. Caoile detailed practical, proactive steps that individuals and groups can take to fortify mental resilience and create a culture of care within the university. This session especially emphasized the role of inclusive, empathetic, and proactive communities in promoting mental wellness and preventing self-harm. The discourse naturally flowed into a productive Open Forum, allowing Luzonians to ask direct questions and share perspectives in a controlled, confidential setting.

The event culminated in a meaningful Exchange of Affirmation Cards Activity, spreading encouragement and hope among participants. As a powerful closing gesture, participants took part in a Pledge of Commitment Activity—a promise to be advocates of hope and understanding—which was thoughtfully facilitated by officers of the partner student organizations, the Youth Peer Organization and Psychenosi. The program concluded with closing remarks delivered by Guidance Designate Raymond Albert Esguerra, who reiterated the necessity of continued vigilance and support beyond the awareness month.

The University of Luzon proudly recognizes that these activities are deeply aligned with the global framework for progress, specifically the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. By focusing on mental health awareness and providing crucial psychological resources, the program directly supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, aiming to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. The dissemination of quality information, skills, and commitment through the plenary talks, open forum, and peer support structures is a direct contribution to achieving SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities. Finally, the collaborative efforts involving the Guidance Center, the Youth Peer Organization, and Psychenosi exemplify SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating how collective action between university departments and student organizations is vital to address complex challenges like mental health on a community scale. The university encourages all Luzonians to carry the spirit of this commitment forward, making mental wellness a daily priority.