A mental health talk series on women and LGBTQ+

SPARK! (Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran Inc. or Alliance of Filipino Women for Reform and Progress) Philippines, in partnership with Vanguard Assessments and the Austrian Embassy Manila, with the support of J. Amado Araneta Foundation and Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment, is organizing a three-part mental health talk series called SPARK! Conversations.

Two were held on 23 August and 6 September and the last one will be on 27 September at Commune Cafe + Bar in Makati City.

The mental health talk series is specifically targeted towards women and the LGBTQ+ community who have suffered from mental health issues due to social factors such as gender-based violence, socioeconomic disadvantage and income inequality.

The three-part series of SPARK! Conversations Mental Health Talk Series with Vanguard Assessments will focus on the topics of single working mothers and the structural disadvantages they tend to experience such as financial insecurity and lack of social support.

Supporting the supporter, the struggles that the support system of people who have mental health disorders go through especially in balancing what they can offer to others while also looking after their own needs. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and the mental health challenges that they face due to discrimination, societal pressures and stigma that they come across every day.

With the passage of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, authored and sponsored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, this mental health talk series aims to promote efforts to improve the awareness and encourage discussions on mental health in the Philippines especially on women and the LGBTQ+ community. Through this, we can protect and help end the stigma against mental health.

SPARK! Philippines office is at the ninth floor, Aurora Tower, Aurora Boulevard, Araneta Center, Cubao Quezon City. Email [email protected] or call mobile 0917-7287961.