J.
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATTVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
Introduced by REP. CLAUDINE DIANA D. BAUTISTA-LIM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In order to track the creation and execution of the WHO's Mental Heatth Astion Plan 2013-
2020,the World Health Organization (WHO) published the WHO Mental Health Atlas in 2017
using datal fiom questionnaires completed by l7V of WHO's 194 member nations (WHO
2018).
Low- and middle-income nations had little public spending on mental health, and more than
80% of funds wentto mental hospitals, according ta the WHO atlas. While the median number
of mental health workers worldwide is 9 per 100,000 people, the distribution of human
resources for mental health services varies signifrcantly between low- and high-income nations
(1 in low-income countries to 72 in high-income counhies) (WHO 2018).
Students from the Philippines, particularly children and teenagers, have confronted sevsre
mental health threats due to the COVID-l9 pandemic. They are particularly susceptible to these
harms, yet there are still no coherent, all-encompassing measures for halting the decline of their
mental health. Instead, existing therapies concentrate on broader approaches that ignore the
unique conditions that they face" Additionally, these approaches fail to address the complex
problems that anation with a lower middle class, like the Philippines, must deal with.
As such, this bill seeks to institute mental health services in all educational institutions. The
appeal for better mental health services includes emphasizing marginalized people living in
low- and middle-income nations, where the rights to care and dignity still need much work.
\Vhen Congress passed the Mental Health Law, it believed that mental health contributes to
psychological and mental well-being. Now, we see that access to the same shall be made
available to our childreo and students in school facilities, as we hold that promoting mental
health is likely to benefit cammunities and nations where millions of people live by glving
mental health the prionty it deserves in the Uaited Nations Sustainable Development Goals. -
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.
D. BAUTISTA-LIM
1 WHO. 2018. wHo Mental Health, as cited in Bodeker, G. (2020). Mental wellness in Asia - asian developnent bank.
Retrieved February 7,2A23, from https:/lwww.adb.org/sites/defaultlfilesiinstitutional-doqumentl633886/adou202Obo-
mental-wel1ness-asia.odf
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February 14, 2023
4:35 pm
HOUSE BILL NO. 7166


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
Introduced by REP. CLAUDINE DIANA D. BAUTISTA-LIM
AN ACT
MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
IN EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the Congress
us.ye nthled;
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Accessibility of Mental Health Services in
Philippine Education Institutions Act of 2023."
Smtion 2,Deelaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to guarantee the
right of every Filipino to sound mental health, ease of access to mental heatth services, and
provide appropriate medical and psychological intervention to prorrrote the mental health and
wellness of students, teaching and non-teaching personnel in all educational institutions in the
Philippines.
All educational institutions shall enfllre that suf{icient mental health services are given the
highest priority to students and teaching and non-teaching psrsonnel. Towards these ends, the
State shall continue to design programs and services that are instrumental in achieving the
same.
Section 3. Mental Health Services. Mental health services shall subscribe to the
psychological, psychiatric, or neurologic activities and programs along the whole range of
mental health support services, including promotion, prevention, treatrnent, and aftercare,
which are provided by mental health facilities and mental health professionatrs
Section 4. Establishmert of Mental Health Offiees (MHOs). The Department of Eduoation
(DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall, subject to the rules and
regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Departrnent of Budget and
Management (DBM), require all educational institutions to establish a Merrtal Health Office
(MHO) in all respective units.
The MHO shall set up hotlines wi& dedicated and hained guidance counselors to assist the
students. Special attention shall be given to those identified with mental health problems or
conditions, especially those at risk of suicide.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 7166


The DepEd and CHED, through their MHOS, shall initiate and sustain a heightened campaign
to raise the collective consciousness about mental health. The awareness oarnpaign shall
emphasize the issues of suicide prevention, stress handlhg, mental health and nukition, and
guidance and counseliug. In addition, the campaign shall enflre that the students know of such
access to mental health services.
It shall likewise develop and provide for sufficient allocation for mental health programs and
projects designed to maintain and address the mental health and well-being of the frculty,
sfudents, and personnel.
Each MHO shall be staffed by trained mental health professionals who serve as mental health
service personnel- MHO shall create a mechanism for timely crisis intervention and suicide
prevention and the appropriate response strategies, especially for the students.
The DepEd and CHED, in coardination with the SUCs, establish mechanisms to maximize
existing services offered by other executive departments, sueh as the attached ageneies to the
Department of Health (DOH) dealing with mental health and the Department of Social Welfare
and Developmeat (DSWD).
Section 5. Hiring, Training, and Deployment of Mental Health Profession*ls. - 
Subject
to the guidelines set by the DepEd, CHED, Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of
Budget and Management (DBM), sducational institutions shall hire, train and deploy mental
health professionals, including a psychologist, to the MHO to ensure that each shall have
mental health professionals or mental heal& serviee providers within five (5) years from the
effectivity of this Act.
The educational institutions, in coordination with the DepEd and CHED, shall prepare the
appropriate plantilla positions for the additional mental health service personnel to be hired
under this Act subject to the existing organrzatianal, staffing, position classification and
compensation policies, rules, and regulations to be submitted to the DBM for evaluation and
approval.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 9258, otherwise knoram as the "Guidance
and Counseling Act of 2004," the educational institutions may hite, as may be necessary,
graduates with relevant backgrounds in psychology or similar fields w{ro do not yet qualify as
mental health professionals to provide mental health services: Provided, That they undergo
sufficient capacity building as determined by DepEd and CHED, and are supervised by
qualified mental health professionals in their provision of mental health services: Provided
further, That they meet the relevant qualifications and are licensed as mental health
professionals within three (3) years from their date of hiring. In addition, the MHOs shall
formulate a scheme for the continuous training of mental health service personnel, taking into
consideration the latest information, studies, and know-how on mental health and mental health
services, in accordance with the provisions of Reprlblic Aot No. l}g12, otherwise known as
the "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2Q16."
Section 6. Salary Grade. The career and salary scales of mental health professionals in
educational instifutions shall provide a gradual progression &om a minirnum to a maximum
salary employing regular increments, to be given regularly based on merit and competencies.
The enhy-level mental health professianals shall not be lower than Salary Crade 16.
Psychometricians shall have, as entry-level, a Salary Grade of 11.
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Section 7. Contract with MHO Personnel. In case of scarcity of available mental health
service personnel for full-time employment in the MHO of the educational institutions, they
may enter into agreements for their hiring on a contractual or part-time basis.
Section 8. Benefits. The Mental Health Professionals in the MHOs shall enjoy the rights,
privileges, and other beaefits provided in Republic Act No- 7305, otherwise known as the
Magna Carta of Public Health 'Workers," Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the
"Mental Health Act" and other pefiinent laws.
Section 9. Appropriations. The initial funding requirements for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the agencies concerned. Thereafter,
such sums as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included ir1 the
agencies'yearly budgets under the General Appropriations Act-
Seetion 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity
of this Act, the DepEd and CFIED shall, in coordination wi& the DOH and other concemed
stakeholders shal1 issue the rules and regulations necessary for the hiring, training, and
deployrnent of the guidance counselors, psychologists, and other mental health services
personnel, and for the implementation of this Act.
Section 11. Suppletory Applicafion. - 
The applicable provisions ofRepublic ActNo. 11036,
otherwise known as the "Mental Health Ac!" insofar as they are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, shall apply as suppletory.
Section 12. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Section 13. Repealing Clause. A11 laws, deerees, orders, ru1es, and regulations orpafis thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Section 14. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect frfteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapors of general circulation.
Approved,
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