Aprubado sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang Senate Bill No. 2200 o Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act na naglalayong isulong ang school-based mental health wellness program sa bansa.
Sa botong 22, ipinasa ng Senado ang Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act na makatutulong para bigyan ang mga estudyante ng sapat na kaalaman tungkol sa kalusugang pangkaisipan at maibigay ang kinakailangang tulong sa sinumang dumaranas ng depresyon at iba pang mental illnesses.
Batay sa SB No. 2200, inaatasan nito ang Department of Education (DepEd) na magtayo ng Care Centers sa lahat ng institusyong hawak nito.
“Care Centers will be mandated to equip learners with skills and information for prevention, identification, and proper response and referral for their own and others’ mental health needs,” ani Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, tagapangulo ng committee on basic education ng Senado at nag-sponsor ng naturang panukalang batas.
“To address the need for enough personnel running the School-Based Mental Health Program, the bill creates the new plantilla positions of Mental Health Associates I to V, and Mental Health Specialists I to V. The bill also seeks the conversion of existing plantilla positions of Guidance Counselors and Psychologists in the DepEd to Mental Health Specialists,” ayon kay Gatchalian.
Para naman kay Sen. Risa Hontiveros, patatatagin ng bagong batas an Republic Act No. 11036 ang Mental Health Act sa pagpapaigting ng kampanya para pangangalaga ng kalusugang pangkaisipan sa bansa, partikular ang sa mga kabataan na karaniwang dumaranas ng depresyon at anxiety.