After its launch on Nov. 29, 2021, “UPLB BARKada at CATropa,” an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) program for mental health will finally be rolled out with an online training for volunteers to be held at 9 am on Feb. 4.
The Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) is implementing “UPLB BARKada at CATropa” to support the psychosocial needs of UPLB constituents as well as provide them an alternative venue to de-stress.
“UPLB BARKada at CATropa” promotes social interaction between animals and humans to help alleviate the negative effects of isolation and depression.
The training on AAI, mental health and psychosocial support, and animal welfare will be conducted for volunteers who will register for the said program.
Volunteers will include the PAWtners, or an owner with their dog or cat with whom they have a strong human-animal bond.
It will also include PAWtrollers or those who will screen, monitor, and assess the welfare of animal PAWtners and the PAWcilitators or the ones who will take charge of peer support.
UPLB students, faculty members, research, extension and professional staff, administrative staff, and alumni may register for the program at https://tinyurl.com/BarkadaCatropa.
(This article, written by Kyle Ramiel Dalangin, was first published in the UPLB Website on January 24, 2022)