KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel urged the government to take a more hoslistic approach in addressing mental health and education-related problems.

He issued the call following reports of student suicides.

Manuel said mental health services should be more accessible to those who need them.

“Dapat magkaroon ng abot-kamay at abot-kayang mental health services para sa lahat ng maaaring mangailangan ng higit pa sa mga hotline. Mainam na ma-review din ang pagpapatupad sa Mental Health Act at matiyak ang sapat na pondo para rito sa pambansang badyet,” the lawmaker said.

“Kabataan Party-list mourns with the families of the victims. Such tragedies should never be experienced, especially by people so young,” Manuel said.

“Hindi ito isolated cases at lalong hindi ito guni-guni lang. Malinaw na ang di pa nareresolbang krisis sa edukasyon ay nagpalala ng krisis sa mental health. Huwag sana nating bigyan ng labis at bulag na papuri ang paghihirap ng mga kabataang nagsusumikap na mag-aral nang mabuti. Bahagi dapat ng ligtas na balik-eskwela ang kaligtasan sa sakit, pisikal man o mental. Kasama rito ang pagtugon sa mga problema sa kabuhayan tulad ng ayuda, trabaho at iba pa,” he added.

Manuel urged the government to pay attention to recent studies that highlight the worsening mental health situation among youth.

The UP Population Institute reported a key finding in their 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study showing that close to one in five Filipino youth aged 15-24 have considered suicide.