The bill that will provide basic mental health services down to the barangay level is now in the final process of being enacted into law.

Senators Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito yesterday expressed hope that President Duterte will sign into law the Mental Health Act which was transmitted to Malacañang last May 21.

“The Mental Health Bill (is now) in the final process of passage. (It is) very significant now that there are too many cases of depression and suicides. We’re hoping that this measure would be able to address this prevailing problem and minimize incidence of suicide and depression,” Ejercito said.

Angara, one of the co-authors of Senate Bill 1354, or the Mental Health Act of 2017, also shared the relevance of the measure as well as the need for the government to make mental health care more affordable and accessible.

“Another challenge is getting Filipinos to overcome stigma. To address this, the bill seeks to integrate mental health programs and policies in schools and workplaces,” the lawmaker explained.

The bill, once it becomes into law, will mandate the Department of Health to provide psychiatric services to all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals while increasing the capacities of mental health professionals.

Currently, the Philippines has only 490 psychiatrists or one psychiatrist per 250,000 Filipinos, a far cry from the standard ration of one per 50,000 people.

“Another problem is we do not have enough psychiatric facilities and psychiatrists in the country,” Angara said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is the principal author of the bill while co-sponsors include Ejercito, Angara and Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

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