- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Voting 201-0, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Nov. 17 House Bill 10284, or the SUCs Mental Health Service Act, authored by Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya.
The bill mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to require all state universities and colleges (SUCs) to establish a Mental Health Office in all their campuses that will set up campus hotlines with dedicated and trained guidance counselors to provide assistance to the whole SUC community.
“I thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives for believing in the intent of the bill to improve access to mental health services. I hope that this proposal can help save lives and eliminate another barrier to learning for our children,” Gasataya said.
He said that he filed the bill to supplement Republic Act 11036, or the Mental Health Act, adding that “an aggressive national mental health policy focused on the youth who are under a lot of pressure considering the effects of the pandemic on the education sector will help curb incidences of self-harm and assist in holistic development through mental healthcare that is responsive to the mental, developmental, and emotional needs of students.”
The proposal states that special attention should be given to students identified to have mental health problems or conditions, and those at risk of committing suicide.
The Mental Health Office should hire, train, and deploy mental health professionals, and initiate and sustain heightened campaign to raise the collective consciousness about mental health focusing on suicide prevention, stress handling, mental health and nutrition, and guidance and counselling.
Gasataya also authored HB 570, or an act establishing the Bacolod City District Hospital, and appropriating funds thereof.
The bill and its counterpart version in the Senate became Republic Act 11564, and signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte middle of this year. — CGC
