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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House panel, groups call for implementation of 2018 Mental Health Law

House panel, groups call for implementation of 2018 Mental Health Law

Published Mar 22, 2021 02:40 pm

Three years after enactment of Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health Act, key provisions of the law have remained unimplemented notwithstanding the spike in mental-health related cases resulting from the prolonged quarantine and isolation measures aimed at addressing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE)

Common complaints on the issue were raised during a hearing conducted by the House Committee on Health to inquire into the status of the implementation of the law.

Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan initiated the hearing after delivering a privilege speech where she aired serious concerns about the problem.

“Intention without action will never be enough,” stated Alyannah Lagasca, secretary general of the Youth For Mental Health Coalition (Y4MH).

Lagasca lamented that since its enactment, implementation of many provisions of RA 11036 remained in the “planning stage”.

The youth leader appealed to lawmakers to “give a lot of urgency on the matter of mental health”.

Among the sectors of society, the youth have are facing the longest quarantine experience that many of them suffer psychological and mental health problems.

Representatives from various educational institutions and mental health groups noted that the COVID-19 situation has brought about serious psychological and mental problems to many Filipinos.

Among the problems faced by people are the restrictive cost of consulting health professionals, insufficient number of medical specialists and access to medical institutions.

Frances Prescilla L. Cuevas, Chief Health Program Officer of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau-Essential Non-Communicable Disease Division of the DOH revealed that the standards of mental health services that will have to be determined by the Department of Health  in consultation with stakeholders based on current evidences are yet to be crafted three (3) years after the law was signed in 2018. 

She said these standards are  necessary in order to establish a responsive primary mental health services that will be developed and integrated as part of the basic health services at the appropriate level of care, particularly at the city, municipal, and barangay level. 

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