THE CHAIR of the Senate Basic Education Committee on Monday reiterated his push for the establishment of mental health services in all schools nationwide.
In line with the observance of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian underscored the importance of Senate Bill 379 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.
The measure seeks to provide mental health services, emotional, developmental and preventive programs, and other support services to learners and teachers in primary and secondary schools, both public and private.
“Due to the damage caused by the pandemic to our students and teachers, now there is a greater need for services and programs that will take care of their mental health,” Mr. Gatchalian said in Filipino in a statement. “That’s why, with the rise of the education sector, we will also ensure that there will be adequate mental health services in every school in the country.”
The bill proposes to hire and deploy mental health professionals and provide higher salaries for guidance counselors.
Mr. Gatchalian cited that the Philippines only has 4,069 guidance counselors as of June while there are over 28 million learners.
Under Department of Education guidelines, there should be one guidance counselor for every 500 students. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan