Mental assessment needed for PMA cadets

THE COMMANDANT of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy disclosed the need of psychosocial assessment and interventions to ensure mental stability among plebes.

On Friday, Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr. said teams of psychologists have volunteered their assistance to conduct psychological assessments for PMA plebes.

Plebes have undergone stress management, trauma management and anger management for upperclassmen. For the past three days, neuro psychiatry teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines made assessment

and came up with recommendations to improve system.

Psychologists recommendation include inclusion of mental health in the curriculum of PMA, frequent psychological interventions and increase in the number of psychiatrists and psychologists to look after the psychological needs and mental health of the cadets.

“We need experts to help in the mental health. We are not saying the cadets are crazy but when you go through any form of trauma, we need to have intervention,” he added.

The commandant cited one expert needed per company.

It was revealed there is only one psychometrician in the academy.

Following the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio, Brawner said they will be conducting group norming to be able to identify the bad habits, bad practices of the cadets such as the culture of hazing.

Brawner earlier declared a war against hazing which is present in the academy that needs to be stopped.

“The cadets are still sad of the death of Cadet Dormitorio but the good thing, the general sentiment that all of them are positive for change. Welcome change they themselves feel that some of the system deteriorated,” replied Brawner when asked of the current morale of the military academy.

Brawner and new PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Ferdinand Cusi replaced Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista who resigned together with Brigadier General Vicente Bacarro, former commander of cadets of PMA.