The chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children on Monday urged the government to strengthen interagency coordination and monitoring and follow-up on all the cases of suicides, bullying and violence involving students and teachers.
During the hearing, BHW Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co raised the alarm on the increasing number of suicides and attempted suicides among students and the implementation problems of the National Mental Health Act.
“The frustration, disappointment, alarm and lamentations made for the palpable tensions during the hearing about suicides among the Filipino youth. We are disappointed by the poor lack of implementation of the National Mental Health Act and other laws, which, if they had been implemented, could have prevented many of the suicides,” Co said.
Co said there must be “synergy” among all the implementing agencies by having one concrete program that can be properly carried out even at the grassroots levels.
Citing recent data provided by the Department of Education (DepEd), Co said among the 28 million student population, 404 students ended their lives, while 2,147 learners had attempted to end their lives in the year 2021.
Co highlighted plans to raise salary grades of licensed guidance counselors when they work at the DepEd.
She further cited DepEd data showing that roughly 775,962, or about 2.85 percent of the population, learners sought counseling from a guidance counselor.
Of the 60,157 schools, there were only 16,557 guidance officers and 2,093 registered guidance counselors.
“We need guidance counselors at the schools, not at the division offices and regional offices.”
Co said the Department of Health could include mental health training for barangay health workers.
“This would be one quick way to swiftly add more people who can be first responders in communities and schools,” she said.
She said she will file a school health bill that includes vital components on mental health and nutrition, clarifying that the measure will not add to the burdens of teachers by giving them work on guidance and counseling. (PNA)
Photo credit: House of Representatives website