Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier Completes “Yakap” Mental Health First Aid Training for Barangay Health Workers and Young Mothers

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Cagayan de Oro City, July 4, 2025 — The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier successfully concluded its inaugural “Yakap: Promoting Mental Health and Well‑Being of Mothers and Children” training earlier today at Barangay Bonbon. This initiative is part of a month-long rollout across Rotary District 3870 clubs under District Governor Marlowe Selecios, aligned with the Rotary International Presidential theme “Unite for Good”.

As its first community project for the new Rotary year, the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier gathered barangay health workers and young mothers for a half-day training aimed at equipping participants with tools to better understand, support, and respond to the mental health needs of teenage and young mothers. Northern Mindanao, where Cagayan de Oro is located, continues to have one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the country — around 15%, nearly double the national average — making initiatives like “Yakap” timely and crucial.

The training featured expert speakers who provided insights on key topics. Atty. Edgar Requilme discussed the laws and programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on teenage pregnancy and parenting, underscoring the legal protections and available resources for young parents. Atty. Requilme also delivered a session on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), equipping health workers with immediate and practical interventions to assist those in distress. Mr. Jayson Pasok capped the morning with a presentation on the ProtectTEEN program and other psychosocial interventions that barangay workers can implement to better support teenage parents.

“By empowering grassroots health workers and providing psychological support to young mothers, we truly ‘Unite for Good’ in our community,” said Michael P. Adame, Community Service Director of Rotary CDO Premier.

Now on its 11th year, the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier continues to champion transformative community service projects, staying true to its mission of uplifting marginalized communities through programs in health, education, and social welfare. The club is composed of young professionals and entrepreneurs committed to making a positive impact in the lives of Kagay-anons.

This project launch comes at the start of the new Rotary Year, under the leadership of Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, who assumed the role after Mário César Martins de Camargo stepped down for personal reasons just days before taking office. Unite for Good, de Camargo’s chosen presidential message, remains the guiding theme for the year — a call to action embodied by initiatives like Yakap, which foster collaboration, compassion, and meaningful impact at the grassroots level.#

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