Unilab Foundation and Asia Pacific College Seal Partnership to Strengthen Mental Health Support for Students

Mandaluyong City, Philippines — The Unilab Foundation (ULF) and Asia Pacific College (APC) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 10, 2025, to launch a school-based mental health initiative aimed at supporting the overall well-being of Filipino youth. 

This partnership marks the rollout of ULF’s mental health modules through its pillar, Heads Up PH, to equip APC with tools and training to better respond to the mental health needs of their students. 

“This agreement goes beyond formalities; it is a reflection of our shared responsibility to foster environments where mental health is prioritized as foundational to learning and growth,” said Atty. Jose Maria Ochave, Executive Director of the Unilab Foundation. “Schools play a critical role in shaping not just academic outcomes, but the emotional resilience and overall well-being of our youth.” 

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From left to right: Ms. Joan Armada-Urieta, Program Director for Heads Up PH, Unilab Foundation, Inc., Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave, Executive Director of Unilab Foundation, Inc., Dr. Ma. Teresita P. Medado, President of Asia Pacific Technology Educational Foundation, Inc., Mr. Arnold Francis N. Oriño, Head of the Counselling and Wellbeing Center of Asia Pacific Technology Educational Foundation, Inc. 

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A study¹ published by Cambridge University Press found that the prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms among Filipinos aged 15 to 24 rose from 9.6% in 2013 to 20.9% in 2021. These findings underscore the urgent need for accessible and proactive mental health support, particularly in educational settings. 

This collaboration includes providing mental health programs and capacity-building sessions for school personnel, and the integration of said initiatives into school culture and policy, to move towards improving help-seeking behavior among students, reducing stigma, and fostering safe and supportive learning environment. 

“With APC’s mission of providing progressive education through real project and real learning experience for its students, we hope that our programs will help protect and nurture the students' wellbeing and for APC to continue being a model of a healthy learning environment where academic excellence is driven by robust mental wellbeing of its members,” Atty. Ochave added. 

 Dr. Ma. Teresita P. Medado, President of Asia Pacific College, underscored the importance of the partnership with Unilab Foundation in advancing APC’s educational mission.  “Our collaboration with the Unilab Foundation reflects APC’s commitment to shaping graduates who are not only professionally competent but also grounded in empathy, resilience, and purpose.” Dr. Medado shared. “This initiative aligns with our core values of industry, integrity, and innovation, and reinforces our belief that education must be responsive, human-centered, and transformative.”

“By integrating mental health into APC’s academic ecosystem, the institution is cultivating a learning environment that empowers students to lead with emotional intelligence and social responsibility—qualities essential for success in today’s dynamic global workforce,” Dr. Medado noted.

Together, APC and ULF envision a campus culture where mental health is openly discussed and holistically supported, preparing students to thrive not only in their careers but also as compassionate servant leaders in their communities.

¹ Reference: Puyat, J. H., Salvador, D. L., Tuazon, A. C., & Afable, S. D. (2025). Rising prevalence of depression and widening sociodemographic disparities in depressive symptoms among Filipino youth: findings from two large nationwide cross-sectional surveys. Global mental health (Cambridge, England), 12, e51. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2025.39