NextGen Day

To help students live meaningful and normal lives as they transition into adulthood, state universities and colleges (SUCs) should create a Mental Health Office (MHO).

Senator Jinggoy Estrada has introduced Senate Bill No. 1508, also known as the SUCs Mental Health Service Act, in response to studies that behavioral problems, anxiety disorders, and depression are some of the main causes of disease and impairment among adolescents.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in 2021, 1 in 7 10 to 19-year-olds worldwide suffer from a mental condition, which accounts for 13% of the disease burden in this age range.

According to the same report, suicide is the fourth most common cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 29.

On December 12, 2022, the House of Representatives passed a comparable bill.

Similar to Estrada’s suggestion, House Bill No. 6416 mandates that the Commission on Higher Education force all SUCs to create an MHO, subject to the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management.

According to Estrada, if the issue isn’t resolved in adolescence, it will affect adolescents’ physical and mental health and their ability to pursue opportunities as adults.

The bill’s explanatory statement stated that “the establishment of MHOs in all SUCs and strengthening our already existing campus MHOs will ensure easy access to mental health care for the well-being not only of our vulnerable youth population, but also of the faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other personnel in SUCs.”

In order to guarantee that health services are offered to address emotional, behavioral, and psychological disorders, the legislation permits the appointment of additional faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other people on SUC campuses countrywide.

The government standardization law will serve as the foundation for the salaries and other benefits of the MHO staff.

Estrada emphasized that persons who have been identified as having mental health issues or disorders, particularly those who are at danger of committing suicide, must receive special treatment.

According to the bill, there will be awareness campaigns on advice and counseling, stress management, mental health and nutrition, and suicide prevention.

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