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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE IS ls
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No._ 3840.2

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease". It is
related to the promotion of well-being, the prevention of mental disorders, and the
treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders."

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) promotes the concept of
mental health care as an integral part of primary health care services.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the United
States, mental illness usually begins early in life. In addition, between 8 and 13
million children and teenagers have a mental health problem at any given time, as
revealed in an article by the U.S. News & World Report. And sadly, two-thirds of
them are not getting treatment for their mental health issues.

Early intervention is imperative to give children the best developmental,
behavioral and adaptive outcomes that will allow them to function properly in society
despite their limitations.

The proposed legislation aims to put in place a comprehensive and
coordinated children's mental health policy that would provide the directions and
interventions that must be undertaken by and among concerned agencies in an
effective and timely manner. This early intervention approach would not only improve
the condition of children with mental disorders, but also lessen reliance on special
education and developmental disability services that prove to be costly.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Lie We
MARK A. VILLAR



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No, 8.402

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE EARLY DETECTION AND TIMELY INTERVENTION
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Early Detection and
Intervention Services for Children with Mental lliness Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all
the people at affordable cost

Section 3. Definition of Terms. The following terms shall mean’

a. “Mental lliness” shall mean any of various psychiatric conditions, usually
characterized by impairment of a child's normal cognitive, emotional, or
behavioral functioning, and caused by physiological or psychosocial factors;

b. “Intervention” shall mean educational methods and positive behavioral
support strategies designed to improve the condition of a child suffering from
mental disorder.

Section 4, The Department of Health shall undertake to develop a program
providing for comprehensive accessible and affordable early mental health detection
and timely intervention services for children. The objectives of this program includes
but not limited to the following

a. To increase awareness, reduce barriers to screening and diagnosis, promote
evidence-based interventions for children with mental disorder or other
developmental disabilities


b. To build a qualified and adequately trained workforce prepared to provide
mental health services for children and their families.

¢. To conduct a comprehensive, multi-faceted public awareness campaign to
reduce the stigma of mental iliness and educate families, the general public,
and other key audiences about the benefits of children's social and emotional
development, and how to access services.

d. To create a quality-driven children's mental health system with shared
accountability among agencies and programs that conducts ongoing needs
assessments, uses outcome indicators and benchmarks to measure progress,
and implements quality data tracking and reporting system,

Section 5. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Section 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
amended accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,