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Bill for mental health office in SUCs ok’d on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 10284, otherwise known as the State Universities and Colleges Mental Health Service Act, on second reading via voice voting on Tuesday, November 9.

The bill authored by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to require all SUCs to establish a mental health office in all campuses.

Gasataya, in a press release, said that he filed the bill in supplement of Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health Act, under the belief that an aggressive national mental health policy focused on the youth who are under a lot of pressure considering the effects of the pandemic on the education sector will help curb incidences of self-harm and improve intellectual, developmental, and emotional development.

The mental health offices in SUCs under the proposed legislation shall set up campus hotlines with dedicated and trained guidance counselors to provide assistance to the whole SUC community, especially the students and initiate and sustain heightened campaign to raise the collective consciousness about mental health focusing on suicide prevention, stress handling, mental health and nutrition, and guidance and counseling.

“I am thankful to my colleagues in the House of Representatives for believing in the intent of the bill to make mental healthcare more accessible to the public. I hope that this proposal can help save lives and eliminate another barrier to learning for our children,” Gasataya said.*

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