The Senate ratified on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act which aims to enhance learners’ access to mental health services.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who authored and sponsored Senate Bill No. 2200, said the bicameral conference committee was able to develop a landmark piece of legislation that shall strengthen the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) existing mental health and guidance counseling program by establishing a school-based mental health program.
“This program seeks to promote and ensure the mental health and well-being of all learners in public and private basic education schools across the country,” Gatchalian said.
“The cornerstone of this legislation is the establishment of a care center in every public basic education school, as well as ensure their establishment and maintenance in private basic education schools in the country,” he added,
The Care Center shall be headed by a school counselor and shall be assisted by a school counselor associate.
The office will provide screening, evaluation, crisis response, mental health literacy, emotional development programs, and support services to learners.
New positions of School Counselor I to IV, School Counselor Associate I to V, and Schools Division Counselor will be created under the measure to fill in the shortage of guidance counselors in public schools nationwide.
If passed into law, the bill shall also establish a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in every school division office, to be headed by a school division counselor, who must be a registered guidance counselor or registered psychologist. (Philippine News Agency)
