Lawmakers at the House of Representatives are seeking for the added allocation of P1-billion budget for National Mental Health Program.
Representatives Bong Suntay of Quezon City and Stella Quimbo filed House Resolution 1225, which eyes a P1-billion budgetunder the Republic Act No. 11036--otherwise known as the Mental Health Act.
The proposal was made to fast track implementation of Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act) as they push the Committee on Appropriations to allocate an additional P1 billion.
The said budget will be under the National Mental Health Program under the DOH budget for 2021.
“Dahil sa lockdown, at risk ang marami sa breakdown. Kaya’t kailangan kasama ang dagdag na pondo para sa mental health programs sa COVID-19 health response ng gobyerno,” Quimbo said.
It was revealed during the DOH budget hearing that mental health budget for next year is a meager 615 million or about P5.69 per Filipino. This is grossly unacceptable. It is even lower than the budget per capita of P12.19 in 2017; note that there was no MH Act then.
"Hindi makatwiran na kung kailan may pandemya, kung kailan naipasa na ang MH Act, tsaka pa lumiit ang pondo para sa mental health," Suntay explained.
According to Rep. Stella Quimbo and Rep. Bong Suntay, mental health issues have worsen with the quarantine protocols that limit one's capacity to earn during these times.
"Ang hirap po ng buhay ngayon ang kawalan ng kasiguraduhan sa krisis na ito ay nagpapalala po sa kalagayan ng mental health ng marami sa atin. Kaya parte po dapat ng pagresponde sa COVID-19 ang pagtugon sa isyu ng mental health," he said.
Suntay cited that last month, the National Center for Mental Health bared that there has been a huge increase in suicide-related calls to their hotline amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first quarter of the year, they received an average of 33 calls a month. The figure dramatically increased to 66, 80, 112, and 115 calls in April, May, June, and July of the same year.
A few weeks after said report, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones confirmed that they have recorded a COVID-19-related suicide case of a child.
"These accounts lead us to the conclusion that there must be an increase in the mental health program budget. Hindi po katanggap-tanggap na sa dami nang nangangailangan ng tulong sa kanilang mental health dulot ng pandemya, kakarampot lang ang nailaan sa programang ito," added Rep. Suntay.
"Ikinababahala din po natin ang pag-amin ng DOH na kahit dalawang taon na ang nakakalipas mula nang maipasa ang batas, hindi pa rin buo ang kanilang Mental Health Division."
Meanwhile, Quimbo said that like Covid-19, anyone can fall victim to mental health if not attended immediately.
“Ano man ang panahon, kabilang na ang kinakaharap na pandemya, matatanda o bata man, apektado ang mental health. Dagdag stress ang kawalan ng trabaho, pagkalugi ng negosyo, at takot sa COVID-19. Karamihan, lalo na ang mga kabataan ay palaging online at tutok sa social media, na siyang maaaring trigger din ng depression," remarked Rep. Quimbo.
As of press time, 129 lawmakers have already expressed intent to co-author the measure.
"First, we thank our colleagues in the House for supporting the resolution. Second, we call on the Department of Health to immediately and fully implement all the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Bigyan natin ng halaga ang batas na ito sapagkat importante na hindi lang tayo malakas sa pisikal na aspeto kundi maging sa aspeto ng isipan. We often forget the importance of our mental well-being and the fatal consequences that
occur when it’s neglected. House Resolution No. 1225 responds to one of most pressing needs of the Filipino during a time of distress, they deserve no less," she noted.