Convinced that there is a "bullying crisis" in schools, Deputy Majority Leader Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas filed the proposed Campus Mental Health Improvement Act to address the problem.

Embodied in House Bill (HB) No.3397, the measure seeks to expand mental and behavioral health services in colleges and universities, among other things.

The Department of Education (DepEd) records thousands of bullying cases annually, ranging from physical assaults to cyberbullying.

In school year 2021–2022 alone, DepEd reported 404 student suicides and 2,147 suicide attempts—figures that highlight the urgent need for accessible and responsive mental health services. Yet despite the magnitude of the problem, only 2 percent of schools nationwide have fully functioning Child Protection Committees, Vargas said.

“Most policies zero-in on children in basic education. But many of those learners eventually move on to college still carrying the scars of bullying. This is where policy should step in—at a stage when pressures are heavier and support is thinner," said the second-termer.

Vargas' HB No.3397 seeks to address this gap by training faculty, staff, and student leaders to detect and respond to mental health concerns; as well as embedding awareness campaigns to fight stigma and encourage help-seeking behaviors on campuses.

“Bullying victims do not simply outgrow their trauma once they graduate from high school. That’s why our laws need to catch up—so every student, at whatever stage of learning, has access to the care they need,” Vargas noted.

The measure builds on the earlier version first filed by his brother and predecessor, former Congressman and now Councilor Alfred Vargas.

The deputy majority leader stresses that investing in students’ mental health is not only a moral duty but also an economic imperative.

“Healthy, resilient college students grow into stronger professionals and citizens,” Vargas said.

Globally, UNESCO says that school violence and harassment severely impact learners’ mental health, making psychosocial support a key priority for education systems.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) estimates that more than three million Filipinos suffer from mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.