TSU strengthens mental health initiatives through partnership with DepEd Tarlac City, PGCA

Tarlac State University (TSU), through the Office of International Affairs and Linkages (OIAL), held a coordination meeting with the Department of Education - Tarlac City Schools Division (DepEd-TCSD) and the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association Inc. (PGCA) – Tarlac Division on June 23, 2026, to strengthen collaboration in promoting learner well-being and reinforcing school-based mental health support systems.

At the center of the partnership is the implementation of Kamay ng Kalinga: The Helping Hand of Basic Counseling, a program to be administered under the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), particularly through the Department of Psychology and Human Services. The initiative aims to provide schools with a structured framework for strengthening mental health support and fostering a culture of care among learners.

Through the partnership, the collaborating institutions will undertake capacity-building activities, training programs, research collaborations, and professional development initiatives to enhance the competencies of guidance counselors, guidance associates, designated guidance personnel, teachers, and other school staff in delivering basic helping and counseling services.

By leveraging their collective expertise and resources, TSU, DepEd-TCSD, and PGCA–Tarlac Division seek to cultivate sustainable psychosocial support systems and promote evidence-based counseling practices in schools. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to contribute to the holistic development and improved mental health of learners across Tarlac City.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Nina G. Valentin, PGCA–Tarlac Division Chapter President; Dr. Myrel M. Santiago, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS); Dr. Ninez B. Tulo, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Linkages (OIAL); Dr. Jasmin Joy Dizon, Chairperson of the Department of Psychology and Human Services; along with DepEd officials, representatives from PGCA, and OIAL staff.