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Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In a nation where stories of resilience and struggle are part of the everyday, a movement has ignited—a digital gathering of hearts and minds determined to rewrite the narrative on mental health and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Philippines.
As #MentalHealthPH marks its 9th anniversary, it doesn’t just look back on the milestones—it dares to propel the conversation forward with #Enga9e: Uniting Voices for Mental Health and NCD Advocacy in the Philippines, a groundbreaking virtual community dialogue set to take place on April 30, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN via Zoom.
But this isn’t just any online event. This is a call to action—a chance for Filipinos to shape the message that will echo from the Philippines all the way to the hallowed halls of the United Nations.
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From Community to Global Stage
Only two days after the dialogue, on May 2, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York, #MentalHealthPH will take part in the Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing, a key prelude to the 4th High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health.
This rare opportunity for representation means one thing: the Filipino voice must not only be heard—it must ring loud and clear.
“We believe the power of change lies in our community,” says Roy Dahildahil, Executive Director of #MentalHealthPH. “Your voices matter. Through #Enga9e, we want to ensure that the realities of Filipinos—our struggles, innovations, and hopes—are represented on the global stage.”
Lived Experiences as Power
#Enga9e opens its digital doors to everyone: mental health advocates, persons with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and ordinary citizens alike. These are the very people whose stories will mold the messages #MentalHealthPH delivers to global decision-makers.
The dialogue will not only showcase best practices and ongoing innovations, but it will also expose the stark challenges still faced in many parts of the country: lack of access to care, stigma, underfunded mental health programs, and the deep connection between physical and psychological well-being in communities impacted by poverty, disaster, and displacement.
Co-Creation for Lasting Impact
This is not a lecture—it’s a collaboration. Each participant becomes a contributor to the final recommendations presented at the UN. Together, they will co-create a blueprint for a mentally healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient Philippines.
And in true Filipino fashion, this is done with compassion, courage, and community.
Why This Matters
Mental health has long been overlooked in both national and international health priorities. NCDs—like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—continue to rise, often untreated until it’s too late. The COVID-19 pandemic has made one thing painfully clear: mental and physical health are inseparable.
As the world seeks recovery and healing, voices from the Global South, like those from the Philippines, must be front and center in shaping a more equitable future. #Enga9e serves as the megaphone for these voices.
How You Can Be Part of History
Join the conversation. Share your story. Contribute your insight. Be part of a movement that reclaims the narrative and ensures that the pulse of the Filipino experience is felt on a global stage.
To register or learn more, visit https://mentalhealthph.org or follow #MentalHealthPH on social media.
From Our Islands to the International Arena
This is more than a webinar. This is a watershed moment for mental health and NCD advocacy in the Philippines.
Because when Filipinos speak with one voice, the world listens.
And this time, the world must.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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