NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1570
iziS ^l>uate
*22 NOV 29 P5'-17
ruceivld BV;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE YOUTH SUICIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The number of suicide cases in the country surged as the pandemic raged and 
dragged on. In fact, the number of suicide deaths in 2020 was the highest in fourteen 
years, or since 2006 when the Phiiippine Statistics Authority (PSA) started coilecting 
data for intentional self-harm1. Deaths due to suicide rose to 3,529 in 2020, which is 
25.7% higher compared to the 2,808 deaths in 2019. With this number, suicide 
became the 27th leading cause of death in the country2.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that close to 800,000 
people die due to suicide every year, i.e. one person every 40 seconds. It is also the 
third leading cause of death among 15-19 year-olds. Moreover, WHO provides, "many 
suicides happen impulsively during moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability 
to deal with life stressors such as financial problems, relationship break-ups or chronic 
pain and illness." But WHO clarifies that suicide is preventable. Preventive measures 
include school-based interventions, early identification, treatment and care, training 
of health workers in the assessment and management of suicidal behavior, among 
others.
1 "Number of suicides in 2020 highest in 14 years-PSA." March 17, 2021.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/17/number-of-suicides-in-2020-highest-in-14-vears-psa/
2 "Suicide deaths up 26 percent in pandemic year: PSA." March 17, 2021. https://news.abs- 
cbn.com/news/Q3/17/21/suicide-deaths-up-26-percent-in-pandemic-vear-psa


This bill builds on the provisions of Republic Act No. 11036 or the "MentalHealth 
Act of 2018". Section 21 of the landmark law provides that mental health services 
shall also include mechanisms for suicide intervention, prevention, and response 
strategies, with particular attention to the concerns of the youth.
This proposed measure lays out specific early mechanisms and programs in 
schools, particularly in the elementary and secondary education curriculum; a public 
education campaign not only among the youth but also to those in their immediate 
environment; and the employment of psychologists in every school and the conduct 
of regular counselling alignment sessions.
Considering the alarming rate of increase in suicide cases and the need to 
promote the wellbeing and health of the youth amid the ongoing pandemic, the 
immediate passage of this bili is recommended.
RAMOI^ONG REVILLA, JR.


lEl Senate
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1^70
of :!i:
72 NOV 29 P5:17
o
.Dl\ ...
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE YOUTH SUICIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Youth Suicide
2 
Prevention Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Under Section 13, Article II of the 1987
4 
Constitution, the State shall promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual,
5 
intellectual and social well-being of the youth. In view of this policy, the State shall
6 
promote youth programs that will shape their values and inculcate in them positive
7 
self-image, self-respect, critical thinking and moral responsibility to enable them to
8 
become principle-centered and values-driven individuals.
9 
It is recognized by the State that youth suicide is a public health tragedy linked
10 
to underlying mental health problems and that youth suicide early intervention and
11 
prevention activities are national priorities.
12 
Sec. 3. Formulation of Life Planning Education. - The Department of Education
13 
(DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), is mandated to
14 
formulate and include in the elementary and secondary education curriculum a course
15 
of Life Planning. Life Planning Education (LPE) shall require lectures and discussions
16 
on self and identity, family, community values, communication and interrelationship
17 
with others, sexuality and gender roles, community participation, health, psychological
18 
thinking and employment, among others. The DepEd is mandated to ensure that Life


1 
Planning Education is integrated in all schools. Training shall be provided to school
2 
administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, and other school personnel responsible
3 
for delivering LPE.
4 
The DepEd is likewise mandated to formulate a mechanism for sustaining peer
5 
counselling and peer education programs.
6 
Sec. 4. Implementation of Public Education Campaign. - The DOH, in
7 
consultation with the DepEd, is mandated to tap doctors, health specialists, medical
8 
experts, hospitals and other medical institutions to conduct a nationwide education
9 
campaign to help the youth, parents of youth, teachers, school personnel and the
10 
general public to:
11 
a) Become aware of the increasing problem of youth suicide and suicidal
12 
behaviors;
13 
b) Recognize common warning signs of suicidal thoughts and Intent;
14 
c) Learn how to respond to youth who exhibit such signs; and
15 
d) Know when and where to go for accurate assessments and professional
16 
help.
17 
The DOH shall also develop and implement nationwide youth suicide early
18 
intervention and prevention strategies and education campaigns in schools,
19 
educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental
20 
health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support
21 
organizations.
22 
Sec. 5. Implementation of a Peer Counseling Group Program in Every School.
23 
- The DepEd is mandated to require all schools to implement a Peer Counseling
24 
Program that will be conducted by the school psychologist or guidance counselor and
25 
shall involve lessons on basic counselling skills and analyses for students. The school
26 
may also tap the help of health specialists through the abovementioned Public
27 
Education Campaign.
28 
Sec. 6. Employment of Psychologist for Monthly School Counseling Alignment
29 
Sessions. - The DepEd, in cooperation with the DOH, is mandated to employ at least
30 
one (1) psychologist in every school. The psychologist shall be employed in a
31 
consultancy service position and shall be required to visit the school at least once a
32 
month to hold School Counseling Alignment Sessions. The school psychologist must


1 
also prepare a yearly School Counseling Program of Work in order to align the
2 
guidance counselors with the campaigns and programs included in this Act. Said
3 
psychologist must be licensed to practice the profession in accordance with existing
4 
laws and rules and regulations. The duties and responsibilities of the school
5 
psychologist are, but not limited to, the following:
6 
a) Gain up-to-date scientific knowledge about effective screening and crisis
7 
intervention strategies to identify symptoms of suicidal behavior;
8 
b) Formulate and implement standardized and reliable screening procedures
9 
of suicidal intent and tendencies;
10 
c) Provide consultation and assist students in seeking help from their parents,
11 
other adults in social networks, and health care system personnel;
12 
d) Increase competencies in post suicide intervention to prevent further
13 
suicides;
14 
e) Offer immediate support, information resources and appropriate services to
15 
families of youth who are at risk for emotional behavioral disorders which
16 
may lead to suicide attempts;
17 
f) Provide timely referrals for appropriate community-based mental health
18 
care and treatment of youth in all child-serving settings and agencies who
19 
are at risk for suicide;
20 
g) Work with interested families and advocacy organizations to conduct annual
21 
self-evaluation of outcomes and activities on the national level, according
22 
to established standards;
23 
h) Other duties and responsibilities which DepEd and DOH may identify as
24 
necessary to fulfil the above mandate.
25 
The DOH is hereby mandated to provide technical assistance to schools with
26 
respect to training psychologists in schools. It shall implement the best practices in
27 
the identification and treatment of youth who are at risk for committing suicide.
28 
Sec. 7. Provision of Technical Assistance and Data Management - The DOH is
29 
mandated to assist the DepEd in:
30 
a) Identifying and promoting strategies to prevent suicide among the youth;
31 
b) Ensuring the quality of screening and crisis intervention strategies and
32 
procedures; and


1 
c) studying the effectiveness of practices relating to the identification and
2 
treatment of youth who are at risk for committing suicide on the overall
3 
wellness and health promotion strategies related to suicide attempts;
4 
The DOH shall conduct research and development programs on the
5 
effectiveness of new and existing youth suicide prevention strategies, techniques,
6 
technology, including clinical studies and evaluations of such strategies and related
7 
research aimed at reducing youth suicide and providing support for emotional and
8 
behavioral disorders which may lead to suicide attempts.
9 
The DOH is likewise mandated to develop a suicide data collection system to
10 
provide reliable data about attempted suicides in the country. In developing the
11 
system, the DOH shall:
12 
a) Include information on the incidence of suicide attempts;
13 
b) Include demographic information on the persons who attempt suicide; and
14 
c) Explore prevention strategies to reduce the number of attempted suicides
15 
and suicides.
16 
Sec. 8. Establishment of Youth Health Centers. - The DOH may establish
17 
linkages with national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and non-
18 
governmental institutions to establish a network of health facilities and teen centers
19 
catering especially to young people in order to address their identified youth issues.
20 
These health facilities and teen centers shall provide family services, peer
21 
counselling and other related services and may collaborate with parents, schools,
22 
religious groups, and youth-serving organizations to successfully implement youth
23 
suicide prevention strategies.
24 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DepEd and DOH, in
25 
consultation with the National Center for Mental Health, National Youth Commission,
26 
local and national organizations that serve youth, shall issue the IRR within ninety (90)
27 
days from the effectivity of this Act.
28 
Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
29 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
30 
enactment into law and thereafter. An initial amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php
31 
50,000,000.00) shall be allocated for the first year of its implementation. Such sum
32 
shall be included in the special project allocation of the DepEd and DOH.


1 
Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
3 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
4 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
5 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
6 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
7 
accordingly.
8 
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
9 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,