THE HOUSE Committee on Basic Education and Culture urged the Department of Education to integrate into the curriculum of the Enhanced Basic Education or K to 12 Program a mental health awareness course.

The subject will be taught in public and private secondary high schools.

The panel headed by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo adopted House Resolution 422 authored by Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr.

The resolution calls on the DepEd to facilitate the implementation of Section 23 and Section 24 of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law.

It mandates the integration of mental health lessons into the educational system.

During the hearing, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro cited the importance of mental health wellness among teachers and students.

She cited problems such as the lack of guidance counsellors and the lack of mental health programs in some schools.

On the other hand, Mark Bercando, supervising education program specialist of the DepEd’s Bureau of Curriculum Development, presented the agency’s initiatives on mental health awareness.

Bercando said that even before the pandemic, the DepEd had implemented a homeroom guidance program, a special program for all learners from Kinder to Grade 12.