Senator Win Gatchalian hailed the signing of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act Republic Act No. 12080, a landmark law that would increase learners’ access to mental health services.
The law seeks the development of a School-Based Mental Health Program to promote the mental health and well-being of learners in all public and private schools, including those enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS). The School-Based Mental Health Program shall include screening, evaluation, assessment, and monitoring; mental health first aid; crisis response and referral system; mental health awareness and literacy; and emotional, developmental and preventive programs, among other support services.
“On top of experiencing what I call a ‘pandemic’ of mental health, the Philippines is also considered the bullying capital of the world. By ensuring the accessibility of mental health services, we can instill resilience in our learners, prevent suicides, and make our schools safer,” said Gatchalian, principal author and sponsor of the school-based mental health law.
According to Gatchalian, every public school shall have a Care Center to provide school-based mental health services. A Care Center shall be headed by a School Counselor who should be a Registered Guidance Counselor or a Registered Psychologist.
A Mental Health and Well-being Office shall be established in every Schools Division Office (SDO) to address the mental health and well-being of learners and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel under the SDO. Mental Health and Well-Being Offices shall be headed by a Schools Division Counselor who should also be a Registered Guidance Counselor or a Registered Psychologist.
To address the nationwide shortage of guidance counselors, the law also creates the plantilla positions of School Counselor Associates I to V to help in the delivery of school-based mental health services. School Counselor Associates can be graduates of a Bachelor’s Degree in Guidance and Counselling or Psychology; any Bachelor’s Degree with at least 18 units of courses in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology; or any related Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 18 units of Behavioral Science subjects, including 200 hours of supervised practicum or internship experience on guidance and counseling, preferably in a school or community setting.
