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From October 20 to 24, 2025, the La Salle Computer Society (LSCS) held Safe Mode: A Mental Health Awareness Campaign for the first term of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Led by Dencel Angelo Pineda, Vice President for Socio-Civic, along with his committee, the campaign aimed to raise awareness and provide timely, relevant mental health information to the university community.
With guidance from Ms. Chona Chin, a counselor from the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), participants gained insights into recognizing mental health concerns and understanding when and how to seek support.
In an interview, Pineda asked Chin, “What makes some students reluctant to reach out for help, even when they’re aware they’re having a hard time?” She explained, “Students are reluctant for three reasons: they’re afraid of being judged, they’re scared to find out what they have, and they are not sure who is willing to help them.”
Another CPS counselor, Ms. Michelle Ventura, discussed the challenges of being open about one’s emotions and the consequences of suppressing feelings. Asked how bottling emotions can affect mental health and relationships, Ventura said, “By emotionally distancing yourself, you feel you have control over what you feel… There will be negative implications. An illustration is like a bottle filled with pressurized water that needs to be released.”
She added that unexpressed emotions can also impact relationships, noting that “how you think about yourself and the world around you can be limited when you face things alone,” especially when unresolved childhood experiences carry over into present relationships.
CPS counselor Sir Niko Marco Gagolinan emphasized the importance of changing perceptions toward seeking help, stressing that mental health care should be seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. Explaining CPS services, he said, “When people email CPS, there will be an available online Counselor of the Day (COD). On campus, both offices will also have a COD available for walk-ins.”
The campaign further utilized social media to disseminate mental health information. Pineda shared, “Although reactions were limited compared to views, engagement was not our priority. Our main goal was to get the information out there.”
Overall, Safe Mode provided students with practical guidance, helped break stigmas surrounding mental health, and reinforced the importance of seeking support when needed.