SENATOR Manuel “Lito” Lapid on Thursday asked his colleagues at the Senate to immediately pass the measures that seek to strengthen the promotion and delivery of mental health services in basic education and in state universities and colleges.

The senator made the plea following the report of the Department of Education that over 400 students nationwide took their own lives while at least 2,000 others attempted suicide in Academic Year 2021-2022.

“Ako po ay nananawagan sa aking mga kasamahan sa Senado na agarang ipasa ang mga panukalang batas na ating inihain kaugnay ang pagpapatibay ng mga mental health services sa ating mga eskwelahan, kasabay ng nakababahalang pagtaas ng mga kaso ng suicide at iba pang mental health problems sa ating mga kabataan,” Lapid said.

The education department said that the mental health professionals to student ratio is currently at 1:13,400, far from the ideal ratio of 1:500.

“Higit sa pagtugon sa mental health services, nais rin nating suriin at siguruhin na maayos na napapatupad ang ng Mental Health Law upang mas maayos at mabilis nating matugunan ang mga pagkukulang dito,” he added.

Senate Bill 1795 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act aims to put up Mental Health and Well-being Offices in every schools division; while Senate Bill 1796, otherwise known as State Universities and Colleges Mental Health Act mandates all SUCs to ensure the provision of proper and adequate mental health services to their students, faculty, non-teaching staff, and other personnel.

“Umaasa po ako na agarang maisasabatas ang ating mga panukalang inihain upang masugpo ang pagdami ng kaso kaugnay ng mental health sa ating mga kabataan,” Lapid said.