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IMMEDIATE PASSING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF 2017

Senate Bill 1354

As of March 1, 2017
Pending Second Reading, Special Order 

Senators 

The following Senators filed Senate Bill 1354 on February 27, 2017.

Senator Vicente C. Sotto III

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV

Senator Loren B. Legarda

Senator Joel Villanueva

Senator Risa Hontiveros

Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV

Senator Sonny M. Angara

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Guidance Counselors Interview 4

Guidance Counselors Interview 4

02:19
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Guidance Counselors Interview 3

Guidance Counselors Interview 3

02:41
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Guidance Counselor Interview 2

Guidance Counselor Interview 2

03:00
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Guidance Counselors Interview 1

Guidance Counselors Interview 1

00:12
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To get a more comprehensive take on the importance of this Bill, we interviewed three school counselors regarding their thoughts on the Mental Health Act of 2017. 

"Just like those suffering with physical ailments, people who have mental illnesses deserve the right to the health care they need..." (Ms. Haban, Guidance Counselor)

"After raising awareness, we must do something about it. Even if it's a taboo issue, we have to start somewhere. I think that's where the Mental Health Act of 2017 comes in..." (Ms. Guizama, Guidance Counselor)

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Senate Bill 1354, also known as  The Mental Health Act of 2017, is an act establishing a national mental health policy for the purpose of enhancing the delivery of integrated mental health services, promoting and protecting persons utilizing psychiatric, neurologic and psychosocial health services, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes. In simpler terms, this Senate Bill aims to affirm, promote and protect the rights of all Filipinos to mental health services. 

The Petition

Mental health has not always been given the attention it deserves in the Philippines. According to a study done in De La Salle University, the youth today perceive that there are is a severe lack of resources regarding  mental health services in the country. This has led to numerous cases of suicide and self-harm among Filipinos. As early as 1989, there has been a push for a Mental Health Act to be supplemented within the Department of Health (DOH) as an attached agency. However, 16 rejected Bills later, the Philippines is no closer to establishing a mental healthcare delivery system. 

This prompted advocates to promote the immediate passing of this Senate Bill filed on February 27, 2017. Now pending on its Second Reading as of March 1, 2017, it has gained prominent support from the Philippine Psychiatric Association. Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial also stated that mental health is included in the list of priority concerns of the DOH under the Duterte administration.

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About the Advocates

We are Grade 11 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students from St. Scholastica's Academy of Marikina. We were tasked to tackle a social dysfunction within the Filipino society and found that the lack of governmental aid in mental health care to be a growing concern. As HUMSS students aspiring to be psychologists, lawyers and social workers, it is within our responsibility to lobby for a legislation that would further the welfare of the people. Through this petition, we hope to hasten the approval for this Senate Bill, and bring forth the enactment of its provisions for a healthier and happier Philippines.

(Alwan, Davila, De Dios)

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#BreakTheStigma

The following quotes were translated and paraphrased from the interviewees' responses.

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