Perpetual Help Medical Center – Las Piñas won the Health and Wellness Initiative of the Year – Philippines category in the prestigious Healthcare Asia Awards 2025 for its CARE Program, which has provided a holistic approach to psychosocial support for hospital employees and patients.
CARE stands for Compassion, Appreciation, Recognition, and Expression, which are also the values that guide the hospital in fostering a supportive environment for all.
Coinciding with the establishment of the hospital’s Mind Care Center in 2022, the program highlights Perpetual Help Medical Center’s commitment to addressing gaps in mental healthcare by providing consultation, assessment, psychotherapy, counselling, research, internship supervision, and training programs.
The Mind Care Center is a one-of-a-kind center that offers it services not only to patients but also to personnel of Perpetual Help Medical Center – Las Piñas. It is headed by Prof. Mariflor “Yeng” J. Gatchalian, Rpsy, CSAP.
Amongst the program’s key initiatives is the Psychological First Aid (PFA), which follows the principles of Look, Listen, and Link. Trained psychology interns conduct “kamustahan” sessions in the DALTA JONELTA Foundation, Inc. Ward, offering psychosocial support by recognizing distress, listening actively, and connecting individuals to appropriate services.
PHMC-LP has also initiated introductory PFA training for department heads, equipping them with foundational mental health awareness and support skills. Further training sessions are planned to strengthen this knowledge and ensure a continuous, department-level support system.
Beyond patient care, the center also promotes mental well-being through hospital-wide programs such as lectures, film screenings, art stations, mindfulness exercises, freedom walls, origami activities, and free counselling for employees, amongst others. This harbors gratitude and community support, and promotes inclusivity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have access to mental health resources.
Through these efforts, PHMC-LP emphasizes the humanitarian side of psychology. Simple yet meaningful activities, such as “kamustahan” sessions, reflection, gratitude, and creative expression, demonstrate how small gestures can provide significant emotional relief.
“These programs uphold the hospital’s mission of ‘Dedicated to Life,’ integrating emotional well-being into holistic healthcare whilst promoting inclusivity and mental health awareness to save lives,” the hospital said.
Healthcare Asia Awards honors exceptional hospitals across the region that have redefined the standards of excellence in the industry through their innovative solutions and substantial contributions to communities.
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