Morning Zen Guest Blog Post ~ Jasmine Vergara
Update from Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Long Island Park, Koror Palau!

The Ministry of Health offers young children, youth, and young adults with mental health and substance use challenges in the Republic of Palau, the services and supports they need to meet their goals at home, at school, and in the community.

The Behavioral Health Division and the Palau Behavioral Health Advisory Council, led the 2nd National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day at the Long Island Park Carnival to highlight the importance of positive mental health.

Our theme this year was on “Building Resilience and Positive Support.” Our focus on positive mental health was inspired by the “Leaders as Clowns” article from a recent Children’s Mental Health Network Morning Zen post by Dr. George Patrin, pediatrician, veteran and globetrotting clown spreading the message of positive mental health.

• Taking the “social clown persona – a person who remains light hearted, positive, with no reservations or shyness about being of service to all; a leader that brings joy and diffuses stress, even if for only a moment, out of genuine concern for others, those in our sphere of responsibility and care”- from a recent Children’s Mental Health Network Morning Zen Post by Dr. Col. George Patrin.
  

We partnered with the Ministry of Education in inviting students from different schools to attend the event. We had a huge turnout of over 300 children and close to 200 adults. Wow!

Enjoy the photographs from our most successful Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day event!

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  Ribbon Cutting (L-R) Director Andrew Tabelual and Chief Ray Mechol of the Ministry of Education, Director Eydeline Ikea of PCAA, Honorable Minister of Health Gregorio Ngirmang, Chairman of Palau Behavioral Health Advisory Council Alex Ngiraingas, Acting Chief for the Behavioral Health Division Dr. Jasmine Vergara.

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  “Leaders as Clowns” for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day theme “Building Resilience and Positive Support”. His Excellency President Tommy Remengesau Jr. wears the red nose with Dr. Jasmine Vergara, Consultant Psychiatrist and Acting Chief for the Behavioral Health Division, Ministry of Health (May 7, 2015)

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  “Leaders As Clowns” on Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day at the Carnival (L-R) BHD Dr. Jasmine Vergara, MOE Director Andrew Tabelual, PCAA Director Eydeline Ikea, MOH Minister Gregorio Ngirmang, PBHAC Chairman Alex Ngiraingas

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  Behavioral Health Division at the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day at the Carnival. May 8, 2015

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  Honorable Minister Gregorio Ngirmang headed the Press Conference for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and Prevention Week, last May 6, 2015 with the Behavioral Health Division and the Palau Behavioral Health Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jasmine Vergara, MD, is a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Behavioral Health Division, Bureau of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Palau. Jasmine is one of our favorite “Network faithful” and is one of those “atypical” psychiatrists, who continues to learn and discover great and new possibilities, while always focusing on finding ways to improve services for the amazing youth and families she works with each and every day.