LAS Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar sought the intervention of the House of Representatives and concerned agencies in addressing the mental health crisis among young Filipinos.

She batted for an in-depth assessment and comprehensive study of the state of mental health of those in the education sector.

The Department of Education reported that the number of suicide cases among learners in the past school year has risen.

“There is a need to conduct an in-depth assessment of and comprehensive study by relevant government agencies—such as the Department of Health, Department of Education and the Philippine Statistics Authority—on the present state of mental health of the country’s education sector,” Villar said.

The lawmaker stressed that the study will help address immediate needs in a bid to establish more mental health units in schools, hospitals or rural health units.

Villar filed House Resolution 900 urging the House Committees on Health and on Basic Education, and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the increasing number of suicides among students and the seeming mental health crisis afflicting the education sector.

Aside from investing in mental health services, Villar said there is also an urgent need to promote the students’ mental health and well-being.