The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the law expanding mental health programs in schools and creating school counselor positions on Monday, Dec. 9.

“This is a vital step forward in ensuring our learners are not only academically equipped but also mentally healthy,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

Angara also thanked President Marcos and the members of Congress for “supporting our efforts in building a system that prioritizes our children’s holistic development.”

President Marcos has signed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, a groundbreaking measure designed to enhance mental health initiatives in schools and establish additional plantilla positions for school counselors.

Lawmakers, led by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with DepEd officials, were present at the ceremonial signing of the law in Malacañang.

Institutionalization of mental health services

The newly enacted law requires the implementation of a comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Program in all public and private basic education institutions, with special provisions for addressing the needs of out-of-school children.

This initiative aims to raise mental health awareness, address mental health issues, and strengthen suicide prevention efforts within schools.

A key provision of the law is the institutionalization of mental health services within schools.

These services will include the screening, evaluation, and monitoring of students' mental health, as well as providing mental health first aid, crisis response, and referral systems.

To support these initiatives, DepEd is responsible for establishing Care Centers in all public schools and ensuring their establishment and upkeep in private schools.

By transforming and renaming existing guidance and counseling offices, these Care Centers will serve as hubs for mental health services, ensuring that students have access to personalized support systems.

The law also mandates the establishment of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in each school division office.

These offices will oversee the framework for school-based mental health programs, review and approve their implementation, and conduct regular visits to ensure their effectiveness. They will also be responsible for training personnel to provide mental health services to students.

In support of these efforts, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in collaboration with DepEd and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), will establish new plantilla positions for school counselors. These roles will include School Counselor Associate I to V, School Counselor I to IV, and Schools Division Counselor, with existing positions also being reclassified.