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The Philippine government must be both “administratively and financially prepared” to address the growing need for a comprehensive system supporting mental health services. 

This is what House Bill (HB) No.11086, filed by Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, seeks to address. In a nutshell, the measure seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) in-patient and outpatient mental health benefits program. 

“While we laud the efforts of Philhealth, our goal under the bill is to have a unified mental health benefits package that is accessible to all, rather than piecemeal and limited programs that remain vulnerable to changes in administrative priorities and funding limitations,” Yamsuan said in a statement.

Citing data from the World Health Organization, (WHO), Yamsuan notes that 11.3 percent to 11.6 percent of Filipinos are affected with mental health issues, with the incidence increasing at an average of 2 percent annually

This translates to a significant rise from approximately 7 million to 12.5 million Filipinos diagnosed with mental health conditions between 1990 and 2019. 

Even more alarming are the results of the 2021Young Adult Fertility Survey by the University of the Philippines (UP) Population Institute released in October 2022, which showed that nearly one in five Filipino youth aged between 15 and 24 years old have entertained thoughts of ending their lives, Yamsuan said. 

The study also found that “six in 10 of those who ever thought of committing suicide did not reach out to anyone about it. The few who did so mostly sought help from close friends or peers (25 percent of suicide ideators), followed by parents/guardians (7 percent) and other relatives (5 percent). Even among those who acted on their suicidal thought, seeking professional help was highly unpopular (4 percent). In every 10 young adults, only one is aware of any suicide prevention program or service.”

“Despite the progress we have made in understanding and accepting the fact that mental health conditions require the same attention as physical health disorders through the enactment of the Mental Health Act in 2018, many Filipinos remain reluctant to openly discuss this important concern. Mental health conditions are often dismissed or glossed over not only because of the stigma and the discrimination attached to it, but also because many think that access to mental health services is expensive. This should not be the case,” Yamsuan said. 

The rookie solon said PhilHealth has made significant strides in making mental health services affordable and accessible by introducing an outpatient mental health benefits package through its Circular 2023-0018 released in October last year. The package covers consultations, diagnostic follow-ups, psychoeducation, and psychosocial support through accredited mental health facilities. 

“However, funding for mental health is often relegated to the background, which makes the Philhealth Circular vulnerable to change and funding constraints. HB No.11086 or our proposed Comprehensive Mental Health Benefit Act aims to ensure that we have a clearly defined and well-funded effort to safeguard the mental health of all Filipinos, especially our youth,” Yamsuan said. 

Yamsuan is seeking a congressional seat in the 2025 elections as representative of Parañaque City’s 2nd district. His Comprehensive Mental Health Benefit bill forms part of his HOPE (Health, Opportunities, Peace and Education) agenda for the district. 

Under the bill, PhilHealth shall develop an affordable and accessible comprehensive mental health benefits package for all Filipinos with mental health conditions. 

The mental health benefits package should be developed and finetuned in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), and  key stakeholders such as professional societies, patient organizations and health facilities. 

Yamsuan said the package “shall ensure that all Filipinos, regardless of income level, can access high-quality, continuous mental health care that meets international standards of comprehensive mental health support".

It should include emergency mental health services, psychiatric and neurological consultations and treatments, and services under the WHO’s  Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which refer to interventions provided by primary care physicians in non-specialized setting.