Assessment on Mental Health Support Program for Out-of-School Youth: Basis for Implementation in Extension Program

The study was conducted in Barangay San Fernando Sur, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, and involved 163 out-of-school youth (OSY) respondents aged 15–24 years, selected through simple random sampling. A descriptive quantitative research design guided the study. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire that underwent expert validation and reliability testing. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and the independent t-test. The findings showed that most of the respondents were between 19 and 24 years old (74.85%) and were male (69.33%). In terms of mental health support, respondents consistently reported receiving strong support from their families (WM = 4.33) and friends (WM = 4.46). In contrast, support from the barangay was rated lower, with respondents indicating that it was only provided sometimes (WM = 2.81). While a few individual indicators showed significant differences when respondents were grouped according to age and gender, the overall results indicated no statistically significant differences in the level of support received across these demographic groups. These findings suggest that family members and peers continue to serve as the main sources of emotional and psychological support for out-of–school youth. Meanwhile, existing community-based mental health initiatives to the specific needs of this population. In response to these findings, the study proposed a barangay-led mental health support extension program aimed at strengthening community services, improving the dissemination of mental health information, and providing more consistent, accessible, and responsive psychosocial support for out-of-school youth.