Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 19) — A House committee is set to discuss the implementation of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law in line with the recent reports of bullying, violence, and suicide among Filipino children.
Concerned government agencies are also expected to give a briefing during the Monday hearing of the House committee on the welfare of children, chaired by Barangay Health Workers Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co. The measure aims to provide mental health awareness and make mental health care services more accessible. The Department of Education (DepEd) has earlier admitted to the Senate committee on basic education that there is a lack of guidance counselors in schools to address the mental well-being of students, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic which forced learners to shift to distance learning.
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Psychologist Jhon Carandang noted that the adjustments from face-to-face learning to pure distance learning at the height of the pandemic, and now with the blended learning setup, were one of the common reasons why students experience mental distress. Carandang also cited reduced self-esteem, cyberbullying, and parental issues. He said parents should look out for the changes in children’s ABC — for Affective or emotional aspects, Behavior from being sociable to reclusive, and Cognition in terms of shifting from having a positive outlook in life to a negative mindset — to assess their children’s mental well-being to know when to seek help from mental health professionals.
