causes including stress, and having trouble coping with stress can increase one’s risk to developing depression.”

Two high-profile suicide incidents in the past few weeks – those of famous designer Kate Spade and renowned chef Anthony Bourdain – brought to the forefront of the public opinion the issue of mental health.

People were still reeling from the shock of the loss of these two public figures when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into the law Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the “Mental Health Act.”

As I have said previously, we consider the signing of the Mental Health Act as a testament to President Duterte’s commitment to provide accessible and affordable mental health care and services for all Filipinos.

I am proud to have been one of the principal authors of the House version of Republic Act 11036. With this law, the State affirms the basic right of all Filipinos to mental health, as well as the fundamental rights of the people who require mental health services. It forms part of the government’s mandate to design and implement a national mental health program and integrate this as part of the health information system, among others. With this law, the government ensures that mental health is valued, promoted and protected; mental health conditions are treated and prevented; timely, affordable, high-quality, and culturally-appropriate mental health care is made available to the public; mental health services are free from coercion and accountable to the service users, and persons affected by mental health conditions are able to exercise the full range of human rights, and participate fully in society and at work, free from stigmatization and discrimination.

The Mental Health Act strengthens whatever support the government already had in place for those with mental disorders. I personally know someone who was diagnosed with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, who was able to get a Persons With Disability (PWD) ID card that allowed her to purchase her medicines at a discounted price.

The law now provides for even greater support beyond discounts. It provides patients, among others, with access to evidence-based treatment of the same standard and quality, regardless of age, sex, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation; access to affordable essential health and social services for the purpose of achieving the highest attainable standard of mental health, and access to comprehensive and coordinated treatment integrating holistic prevention, promotion, rehabilitation, care and support, aimed at addressing mental health care needs through a multi-disciplinary, user-driven treatment and recovery plan.

More importantly, the Mental Health Act recognizes mental disorders as illness which can be diagnosed and treated. Prior to the signing of the law, most people who suffered from mental disorders were silent. We hope this policy will help neutralize the stigma attached to mental illness.

In this day and age, mental illness should no longer be put on the backburner as we move forward to addressing mental illness out in the open. With the increasing demands of society on the young and elderly alike, mental illnesses such as depression can strike at any time. Depression can affect anyone – even people who seem to live their lives in ideal conditions.

Depression has many possible causes, including stress, and having trouble coping with stress can increase one’s risk to developing depression. This is why our policies and institutions should teach people how to deal with stress.

This is where stress management comes in as a form of self-care or self-help to help people cope with stress. Some of the self-help stress relievers address both the mind and the body such as maintaining a positive attitude, putting stress in perspective or acceptance for things we cannot control, doing our best and being proud of it, eating well-balanced meals, and getting enough sleep and exercise. Getting support from others such as family, friends or any loved ones and someone you trust can help in managing stress. If self-help is not enough, seeking the treatment of a doctor, psychiatrist or mental health professional is also suggested.

At the same time, implementing a universal mental healthcare system in the country would also provide more awareness regarding mental health among Filipinos, especially given the rising number of suicide cases among the youth. According to the Global School-Based Student Health Survey in 2015, 17 percent of high school students in the Philippines aged 12 to 15 said they had attempted suicide at least once.

The law now provides mechanisms for suicide intervention, prevention and response strategies, with particular attention to the concerns of the youth. Twenty-four seven (24/7) hotlines, to provide assistance to individuals with mental health conditions, especially individuals at risk of committing suicide, shall be set up, and existing hotlines shall be strengthened.

We still have a long way to go, but the first and most important step has been done. And if anyone of you knows of anyone who is suffering from depression or any mental illness, reach out to him. You may have helped save a life just by talking to him.