La Consolacion College Bacolod faculty and staff attended a special talk titled “Contagion Prevention: Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing” on Monday, November 3, 2025, organized by the Psychological and Wellness Services Center to foster a safe and supportive campus community.
Originally scheduled in two sessions, both groups attended a single joint session from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Auditorium. The talk was facilitated by Johnny B. Decatoria, PhD, DAAETS, RPsy, with Jade Ermintaño, RPm, faculty and psychometrician from Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, and student intern of Dr. Decatoria, also serving as a speaker.
The session centered on emotional contagion and suicide prevention, highlighting key points such as concerns related to emotional and suicide contagion, the effects of sensationalized or extensive media reporting, rapid assessment and management procedures, understanding the 4 Ps, identifying red flags and high-risk factors, and ways teachers and parents can help.
Participants learned that hearing, seeing, or learning about traumatic events can also be traumatizing, especially for children, leading to vicarious or secondary trauma. The discussion emphasized major risk factors including depression, recent or past suicide attempts, critical incidents, recent losses, and prior traumas.
Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, school president, underscored the importance of collective responsibility in promoting mental wellness. “We must continue to care for one another with empathy and compassion. Supporting mental health is not only a professional duty but a mission of love and solidarity,” she said.
The activity forms part of LCC Bacolod’s continuing initiatives to strengthen mental health awareness and build a culture of care within the academic community.
By: Mikhail Ivan Muchuelas
Photos: Miguel Soberano