SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian praised the Senate’s ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, also known as Senate Bill No. 2200 and House Bill No. 6574. This landmark measure aims to enhance learners’ access to mental health services.

The measure will strengthen the Department of Education’s mental health program by developing a School-Based Mental Health Program. This program will promote mental health awareness, address learners’ mental health concerns, and include suicide prevention efforts in schools.

Services under the program will include screening, evaluation, assessment, and monitoring; mental health first aid; crisis response and referral systems; mental health awareness and literacy; emotional, developmental, and preventive programs; and other support services.

The measure also mandates the establishment of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in every Schools Division Office, to be led by a Schools Division Counselor who must be a Registered Guidance Counselor or Registered Psychologist.

Each public school will also have a Care Center to provide school-based mental health services.

The Care Center will be headed by a School Counselor and supported by a School Counselor Associate.

New positions created under the measure include School Counselor I to IV, School Counselor Associate I to V, and Schools Division Counselor, addressing the shortage of guidance counselors in public schools nationwide.

“Alongside improving the quality of education in the country, we must ensure that we address the mental health needs of our students,” said Gatchalian, who authored and sponsored the measure.