Philippine Science High School launches new center to support students' mental health
In a move to prioritize student mental health, the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus has officially unveiled its new Student Wellness Center, a dedicated resource for students in need of support.
The building serves as the "legacy project" of Batch 1998 or Pisay '98 in celebration of their silver jubilee year. The group of alumni conceptualized the center as they recognized the need to "support the mental health and wellness of the community."
The batch tapped their network of experts to transform a run-down office space into a "bright new wellness center."
The center, which opened on Jan. 9, aims to provide PSHS students a space to "reduce stress and develop strategies to deal with the rigors of their academic lives."
Its interior was designed to have natural elements, calming colors, and flexible spaces to promote a relaxing atmosphere where visitors can destress.
The room houses multiple couches and bean bags where students can get cozy as they play board games, do arts and crafts, or take a break from their studies. A stunning nature mural adorns the wall, completing the scenery and creating a welcoming ambiance.
"We really wanted to make sure that we do something meaningful because, to us, Philippine Science High School is not just our school, it really was our home," said Rebecca Ricalde of Pisay ’98.
"This project is a reflection of our gratitude and our hope to make it a home for many more to come," she added.
Pisay ’98 also acknowledged the support of donors, alumni, and the PSHS community in making the project come to fruition.
"Today, we not only recognize the gifts that transform our school environment but also honor the spirit of giving that is alive (not just) in our alumni community but also in the bigger Filipino community," Ricalde highlighted.
Founded in 1964, the PSHS Main Campus is the flagship campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a research-oriented and specialized public high school system in the Philippines operating as an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.
The institution is located along Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.
