SENATOR Mark Villar called on his fellow lawmakers to support a measure seeking to strengthen school-based mental health programs and expand access to guidance and psychosocial support services for Filipino students nationwide.

Villar filed Senate Bill No. 2133, or the proposed Students’ Guidance Counseling Act, which aims to institutionalize and strengthen guidance and counseling services in educational institutions across the country.

The senator cited research published by Cambridge University Press showing an alarming rise in depressive symptoms among Filipino youth, with cases of moderate to severe depression among Filipinos aged 15 to 24 more than doubling over an eight-year period.

He also pointed to studies showing growing mental health challenges among students as academic pressures, socio-economic difficulties, and other external stressors continue to affect their emotional and psychological well-being.

“Hindi dapat balewalain ang mental health ng ating mga kabataan. Marami sa ating mga estudyante ang nakakaranas ng matinding pressure sa paaralan at iba’t ibang personal na suliranin, ngunit madalas ay kulang ang suporta at gabay na kanilang natatanggap. Nakaaapekto ito hindi lamang sa kanilang pag-aaral kundi pati sa kanilang pangkalahatang kalusugan at kinabukasan,” Villar said.

Villar also underscored the severe shortage of guidance counselors in the country, noting that the current counselor-to-student ratio in the Philippines is estimated at around 1:14,000 — far below the global standard of 1:250.

According to the Department of Education, thousands of guidance counselor positions nationwide remain vacant, limiting schools’ capacity to provide timely intervention and adequate psychosocial support for students dealing with emotional distress, anxiety, depression, bullying, and other mental health-related concerns.

To address these challenges, the proposed measure seeks the appointment of qualified counselors and the hiring and continuous training of at least one associate counselor or school social worker in public schools.

The bill also promotes mental health and wellness programs, stronger referral systems, and timely intervention mechanisms for students requiring specialized care.

“Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang ito, nais nating tiyakin na may sapat na mga propesyonal na handang umalalay at gumabay sa ating mga estudyante. Mahalaga ang maagang pagtukoy at agarang pagtugon sa mga suliraning may kinalaman sa mental health upang mas mabigyan ng tamang suporta ang ating mga kabataan,” Villar emphasized.

The measure aims to help schools become safer and more supportive spaces for learners by equipping them with the necessary personnel and mechanisms to proactively address students’ mental health concerns.

“Napakahalaga na ang ating mga paaralan ay maging ligtas at maaasahang espasyo kung saan nararamdaman ng bawat estudyante ang gabay, malasakit, at suporta. Makakaasa kayo na patuloy tayong makikinig at pahahalagahan ang mental health concerns ng ating kabataan,” Villar said.