THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development has provided funds to the University of Santo Tomas’ Research Center on Social Sciences and Education for its mental health project.

The study titled “Mapping of the Socio-Cultural Factors and Determinants Associated with Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, and Suicide Behavior among University Students” began on June 20, 2021.

It will last two years.

The project team was led by Prof. Maria Carinnes Alejandria. Collaborators from UST-Legazpi, University of the Philippines Visayas, Saint Louis University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, and Palawan State University are among the members.

The National Mental Health Project will investigate the socio-cultural settings that enhance the susceptibility of students dealing with mental health difficulties and daily struggles.

One of the project’s main goals is to look into the socio-cultural determinants of mental health illness among university students enrolled in institutions.

The first two quarters of the project were devoted to data gathering within UST and the participating external academic institutions. The study’s participants are predominantly college students, faculty members and administrators.