REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3298

Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative
HON. RAMON V. GUICO III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The past years have witnessed widespread increase in suicide cases among the Filipinos yet
there is limited knowledge about suicide in the Philippines.

Suicide is the tragic result of the unaddressed mental health problem in the country. In a
Catholic country like ours, talking about mental health creates a stigma among Filipinos, thus persons
affected by mental health condition have to suffer alone in the dark. Unfortunately, more and more
youth are suffering from mental illness, hindering them from achieving their maximum potential.

In fact, a school-based survey of the 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) among 8,761
students from Grade 7 -9 in the Philippines shows that 11.6% of students age 13 to 17 year olds have
considered suicide while 16.8% of students age 13 to 17 year olds have attempted suicide. However,
the reality is far darker than these numbers but we know so little of it because there is not enough
help extended to our youth.

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), there is not enough guidance counselors
in public schools because low salaries have discouraged them from filling the said position.
Moreover, mental health education is still to be included in the DepEd’s curriculum. These measures
are necessary to ensure that students’ academic, career and social/emotional (including mental health)
needs are addressed. As such, this bill is proposed.

It is the state’s policy to protect and promote the overall health of the Filipinos. The passage
of Republic Act 11036 has renewed the State’s commitment to ensure that mental health is valued,
promoted, and protected. Part of this commitment is to ensure that the well-being of students are
prioritized. Schools, being the second home of our youth, shall be empowered to provide the best
education. Moreover, it shall also be a conducive environment for learning where students needs,
including their mental health, are recognized and addressed. Under this Act, the Mental Health
‘Comprehensive Guidance Program shall provide necessary measures to ensure that the well-being of
the youth are protected so that they may reach their full potential as pag-asa ng bayan.

There is a desperate cry for help and we can no longer watch from the sideline and this i
why immediate approval of this measure is eamestly sought.

Rep. Rampn V. Guiep III


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._3296

Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative
HON. RAMON V. GUICO IIT

AN ACT
PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE
PROGRAM IN EVERY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title—This Act shall be known as the “Mental Health
Comprehensive Guidance Program.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.~ It shall be the policy of the State to strengthen their
commitment to protect and promote the right to health of all Filipinos by providing timely,
affordable, high quality, and culturally appropriate mental health care is made available to the
youth. In doing so, the state shall that all persons affected by mental health conditions are able to
live their rights fully as citizens of the Philippines. In pursuance thereto, the State shall:

a. Take responsibility to promote mental health awareness among the youth;

b. Implement policy measures related to the mental health of the youth and pay
due regard so that such policy measures embody the basic principles set forth
in this Act and in the Const



¢. Recognize the role of elementary and secondary public schools in promoting
‘mental health by providing efficient and effective health services;

d. Ensure that authorized officers for the mental health of the Filipinos shall, in
carrying out services, endeavour to improve the general welfare of the; and

e. Secure and respect the rights of people affected by mental health condition so
that they may live a healthy and comfortable lives;

SEC. 3. Scope and Coverage—The Mental Health Comprehensive Guidance Program
shall apply to elementary and secondary student from public schools in the Philippines.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms.— For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

a. “Mental Health”, as defined in Republic Act 11036, otherwise known as the
Mental Health Act, refers to a state of well-being in which the individual
realizes one’s own abilities and potentials, copes adequately with the normal
stresses of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme life events, works
productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a positive contribution to the

community;

b. “Mental Health Condition”, as defined in Republic Act 11036, otherwise known
as the Mental Health Act, refers to a neurologic or psychiatric condition

characterized by the existence of a recognizable, clinically-significant

disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour that

reflects a genetic or acquired dysfunction in the neurobiological, psychosocial,
or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. The determination
of neurologic and psychiatric conditions shall be based on scientifically-
accepted medical nomenclature and best available scientific and medical
evidence;


CHAPTER II
THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE PROGRAM
SEC. 5. The Mental Health Comprehensive Guidance Program. — The Mental Health
Comprehensive Guidance Program shall be the national strategy to address barriers in maximizing
students’ success by providing education, prevention, and crisis and short-term intervention to
promote positive mental health. It shall also affirm the State’s commitment to promote the well-
being of every Filipino by ensuring that mental health is valued, promoted, and protected.

The Department of Health (DOH) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating,
implementing, and monitoring body of the program.

In the implementation of this Act, the DOH shall perform the following functions:

a. Formulate and implement policies, plans and programs for the mental health of the

b. Coordinate with different national and local government agencies, including non-
government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (PO), and private sector
for the promotion of mental health to ensure full implementation of statutory
commitments herein;

c. Coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd), including local government
units (LGUs), NGOs, POs, and private sector to provide integrated mental health
service for the youth.

‘SEC. 6. Mental Health Education. - The State shall ensure that:

a. Mental health education should be taught as part of the overall school health
education programme;

b. Specific topic areas, namely, the brain and behaviour, psychological and
emotional development, the effects of stress, successful coping strategies,


common psychological problems in youth and families, risk factors, how and
where to seek assistance, and healthy relationships between the sexes, shall be
covered and included in the mental health education;

c. The content of teaching the mental health education shall be in the present and
shall be relevant to the student’s personal life;

d. Students shall actively participate in the development and implementation of
classroom activities; and

©. Teachers of mental health education shall be knowledgeable about child
development and the development of good interpersonal behaviours.

SEC. 7. Mental Health Program Development. ~ The State shall create a mental health
program that is tailored to the needs of elementary and secondary public schools in the country
and shall therefore mandate the said schools to take the following steps in the development of their
mental health comprehensive guidance program:

a. Step 1: Establishment of a team

i. There shall be a collaboration of school personnel, family members,
community members, mental health professionals, and students who shall work
together for the creation of a productive, supportive, and positive environment.

b. Step 2: Assessment of school and community environment

ii. Demographics, health risks, and available resources shall be taken into
consideration when creating a mental health comprehensive guidance program.

c. Step 3: Development of a plan


Once the needs and potentials for school mental health programs are
appreciated and ideas for the most suitable elements are discussed among school personnel, family
members, community members, mental health professionals, and students have been discussed, @
specific plan of action including the program’s objectives, assignment of responsibilities, a time-
line, and a coordinating mechanism for agency linkages shall be developed.

d. Step 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

iv. To determine the effectiveness of a planned intervention, baseline data
on the mental health of the children, the quality of school services, the environment of the school
and health knowledge, skills and practices of students shall be obtained.

e. Step 5: Coordination and modification of programs

v. A coordinating body shall be organized to regularly meet with the
coordinating team composed of the key providers in the mental health program.

SEC. 8. The School Guidance Counselor.— The State shall ensure that all elementary and
secondary public schools provide a competent and compassionate school guidance counselor with
the following roles:

a. Deliver the school counseling core curriculum that promotes awareness of mental
health, positive and healthy behaviors and that removes the stigma surrounding
mental health issues;

b. Provide responsive services including internal and external referral procedures and
crisis intervention focused on mental health or situational concerns to help student
return to the classroom and removing barriers to learning;


. Recognize warning signs: changes in school performance (changes in grades,
attendance), mood changes, complaining of illness before school, increased
disciplinary problems at school, experiencing problems at home or family situation
(stress, trauma, divorce, substance abuse, exposure to poverty conditions domestic
violence), communication from teachers about problems at school, and dealing
with existing mental health concerns;

|. Provide school-based prevention, and universal and targeted interventions for
students with mental and behavioral health concerns;

. Provide students with individual planning addressing their academic, career and
social/emotional (including mental health) needs;

Educate teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, and community stakeholders
about the mental health concems of students;

. Recognize the role environmental factors have in causing mental health issues and
provide adequate resources and information;

1. Advocate, collaborate and coordinate with all stakeholders involved to ensure that
students and their families have access to mental health services;

Recognize and address barriers to access mental health services and the associated
stigma;

Adhere and commit to appropriate guidelines regarding confidentiality, the
distinction between public and private information and consultation;

. Direct students and parents to school and/or community resources for additional
assistance through referrals that treat mental health issues;


1. Help identify and address students’ mental health issues while working within the
ethical standards enumerated in RA 11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health
Act;

m. National legislation shall guide school counselors’ informed decision-making and
standardize professional practice to protect both the student and school counselor;

and

n. Seek to continually update their professional knowledge regarding the students’
social/emotional needs.

SEC. 9. Advisory Council.- An Advisory Council shall be created at the regional and
national levels to be headed by the DOH

The regional advisory councils and NAC shall have, as members, representatives from
DepEd and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The regional advisory
councils and NAC shall also have, as additional members, two (2) representatives from accredited
nongovernmental organizations working and private sector specializing in mental health care.

The Advisory Council shall have the following functions:

a. Meet regularly to promote coordination across agencies and public schools to
enhance the implementation of the program and to resolve any implementation

issues;

b. Recommend to the Congress measures and policies for the efficient and
effective delivery of the commitments and goals under this Act and integration
with the general goal of the government to improve the welfare people with
mental health conditions;


c. Ensure that the funding required for the commitments under this Act shall be
included in the annual budgets of the government agencies implementing this
Act; and

d. Promulgate a grievance redress system and receive complaints pertinent to the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting of the Mental Health Comprehensive
Guidance Program. - The DOH shall monitor the implementation of the program and report its
status at least once every three (3) years. The report shall include the findings of the Advisory
Council. The DOH shall annually publish a full report of the Mental Health Comprehensive
Guidance Program.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. — The initial amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the current appropriated funding of the DOH and any subsequent
appropriations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in consultation with concemed
agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act
within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause.—All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause.—If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other parts not otherwise affected shall remain in full effect and force.

SEC. 15. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two newspapers of general publication.

Approved,