Okada Manila launches October mental health campaign with PMHA partnership

Okada Manila partnered with the Philippine Mental Health Association for a month-long staff campaign in October that included an advocacy session on October 1 and participation in the “Light Up Blue for Mental Health” activity on October 10. The resort illuminated its Crystal Corridor in blue for one hour and encouraged employees to wear blue as part of workplace awareness and support measures.

Okada Manila mental health activity: what happened in October

The programme began on October 1 with an advocacy session aimed at encouraging open conversations about mental health among employees. On October 10, to mark World Mental Health Day, Okada Manila took part in the “Light Up Blue for Mental Health” initiative by lighting the Crystal Corridor blue for one hour; staff were also asked to show solidarity by wearing blue during the event.

Jerome Sarte, senior vice president of human resources at Okada Manila, framed the campaign as an effort to normalise conversation and access to support. He said:

"Mental health awareness becomes more meaningful when people feel they can speak openly, seek support, and look after one another." — Jerome Sarte, senior vice president of human resources, Okada Manila

Sarte added that the Light Up Blue activity and other October initiatives were intended to "help make mental wellbeing a more visible and everyday conversation."

Partnership with the Philippine Mental Health Association and clinical support

Okada Manila formally partnered with the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) for the awareness campaign. The collaboration provided a governance and advocacy anchor for the resort’s month of activities and reinforced the public-facing element of the programme.

In addition to awareness events, Okada Manila arranged onsite psychological consultations through Bofill Psychological Services Clinic, giving employees direct access to professional mental-health support during the month. The consultations were positioned as a practical complement to the awareness sessions, offering confidential, scheduled contact with clinicians on site.

Okada Green Heart: where the initiatives sit inside the business

The October programme is implemented under Okada Manila’s sustainability and social impact platform, Okada Green Heart. That platform packages programmes addressing employee safety, health and welfare alongside other social-impact activities run by the resort. Okada Green Heart is the umbrella used to coordinate internal advocacy, external partnerships and the provision of employee services.

What the measures mean for employees and HR practice

The mix of advocacy, visible solidarity and clinical access followed a simple design: raise awareness, lower stigma and create pathways to support. The resort put the sequence into practice by beginning with a conversation-focused session on October 1 and then offering clinical consultations through the month.

HR will typically need to manage scheduling and confidentiality for onsite consultations, ensure employees understand how to access services, and follow up where appropriate. Okada Manila’s HR leadership explicitly linked visibility with access in internal messaging, emphasising both open discussion and professional support.

Why this matters for operators and corporate programmes in the Philippines

Employers in the Philippine casino and hospitality sectors increasingly face expectations to provide employee wellbeing services. Okada Manila’s approach is notable because it pairs a public advocacy moment — participation in World Mental Health Day — with private clinical access for staff through a named provider, Bofill Psychological Services Clinic. The combination makes the programme both visible to the workforce and immediately actionable for individuals seeking help.

For other operators considering similar measures, the two-part model — awareness plus onsite consultations — is a replicable structure. The visibility element helps normalise help-seeking; the clinical offering ensures there is a service to connect to when employees come forward.

Implementation and next steps reported by the resort

Okada Manila said the October initiatives form part of ongoing activity under Okada Green Heart. The resort did not publish specifics on participation rates or follow-up metrics for the advocacy session or the consultations. Management described the month of activity as part of a continuing programme addressing employee safety, health and welfare.

The resort has signalled intent to keep mental wellbeing on the internal agenda beyond October. Jerome Sarte’s comments make clear that Okada Manila plans to maintain regular conversations and access points for staff, though the announcement did not set out a detailed multi-year timetable or measurable targets.

How employers can use visible campaigns and clinical partners together

Organisations that want to replicate Okada Manila’s approach generally need to deliver three elements:

1. Visible awareness activity timed to a recognised event — for example, World Mental Health Day — to mobilise staff engagement.

2. A named clinical partner able to provide confidential, scheduled consultations on site or via secure channels.

3. Internal communications and HR processes to manage booking, confidentiality and follow-up.

Okada Manila’s October work provides an operational example linking those three pieces under a branded sustainability platform.

Closing view from HR

Okada Manila’s HR leadership summarised the objective as reducing barriers to conversation and increasing access to support. Sarte’s statement underlined the behavioural aim: make mental wellbeing a routine subject among colleagues, supported by both peer conversation and professional services.

"Through Light Up Blue and our other initiatives this Mental Health Month, we hope to help make mental wellbeing a more visible and everyday conversation." — Jerome Sarte, senior vice president of human resources, Okada Manila

The resort will continue activity under Okada Green Heart, combining visible campaigns and clinical support as its primary approach to employee mental-health awareness and welfare.