KABARKADA, enabling young people to fight stress and threats
More adolescents and young adults are reported to suffer from depression and anxiety, especially at the onset of Covid-19. Recently, the issue of suicides among them has been a disturbing reality, with some linking it to the difficulty of adapting to new normal.
To help the young cope with current stress – enabling them to face the threats and risks of adolescence, the City’s Population Office will focus on its Adolescent and Youth Health Development (AHYD) Program – KABARKADA – on the next few months.
Kabarkada or “peer” is a conceptualized project that promotes adolescent health and sexuality. It aims to enhance the physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of development with a focus on mental health. It is designed to help young people take responsibility by developing life skills to become responsible citizens of their community.
Along with the new normal, Kabarkada will launch an awareness and information campaign called “Usapan” which will educate young people on their characteristics, their nature, threats and risks.
The AHYD is a major component of the Philippine Development Plan. Since adolescence is a period of life with special needs and rights, the City Popcom will ensure to meet these needs. The latter is also the best time to develop knowledge and skills, learn to manage emotions and relationships, and gain the characteristics and abilities that will be important for teens to enjoy and fulfill roles. Therefore, part of the office strategy is to organize seminars on the topic of adolescent health and sexuality. Key topics on the lists are reproductive health and sexuality in adolescents, adolescents’ risk of pregnancy and sexual behavior, some to raise awareness about STIs / HIV / AIDS.
From October 29, 2020 to December 2021, the City Popcom AHYD team will make a personal visit to the 27 Barangays to carry out the latter. The program is expected to reach 700 young people and 270 SK leaders by hosting 54 Kabarkada sessions in the months to come.
Photo credit: City Population Office – LGU Koronadal (taken before the Covid-19 pandemic)