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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PM Vargas bill seeks to address 'invisible epidemic'

PM Vargas bill seeks to address 'invisible epidemic'

Published Sep 14, 2025 11:10 pm

At A Glance

  • Calling mental health issues an "invisible epidemic", Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas has filed a bill that seeks to establish mental health centers in every city and municipality across the country.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


Calling mental health issues an "invisible epidemic", Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas has filed a bill that seeks to establish mental health centers in every city and municipality across the country.
Vargas, a deputy majority leader, filed for this purpose House Bill (HB) No.4543 in the current 20th Congress.
“Mental health is an invisible epidemic we must confront head-on. The lack of experts and permanent facilities—especially in rural areas—means millions of Filipinos are left without the care they urgently need,” said Vargas, who also highlighted the observance of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
The proposed measure institutionalizes fully operational Mental Health Centers in all local government units (LGUs).
According to the second-term solon, these centers will provide counseling, psychiatric treatment, crisis intervention, community-based programs, and awareness campaigns.
More importantly, the bill also creates permanent plantilla positions for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and trained social welfare officers—ensuring that every Filipino has access to professional, continuous, and community-based care, rather than temporary or sporadic services.
“Suicide prevention cannot wait. Every day of delay means more lives lost to a crisis we can treat and prevent. With this bill, we are not just building facilities—we are creating lifelines of hope, dignity, and recovery for our people. The time to act is now,” Vargas said.
He noted that since 2008, September has been nationally observed as a month-long commitment to acknowledge those affected by suicide, raise awareness, and connect individuals struggling with suicidal ideation to treatment and support services.
According to the World Bank (WB), the Philippines recorded a suicide mortality rate of 3.49 per 100,000 population in 2021. The World Health Organization further reported in 2023 that around 12 million Filipinos suffer from mental health conditions, with depression and anxiety as the most prevalent.
Alarmingly, suicide is now the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15 to 19.
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