BACOLOD City Rep. Greg Gasataya has filed a measure that seeks to protect the mental health of college students by hiring and training more mental health personnel for state universities and colleges.

Gasataya said that the mental health of college students had been neglected because of the race in universities to excel in curricular and non-curricular activities.

House Bill 0573 aims to help SUCs recruit, train and hire additional mental health personnel and adequately address the mental, emotional, and developmental needs of students.

It also seeks to support school staff and faculty in improving manageability of students, conducting behavioral interventions to improve student discipline, and develop anticipative awareness and skills to identify warning signs of need for mental health services.

The measure mandates the Secretary of the Department of Education to see to it that each SUC would have at least three psychiatrists and other mental health service providers when the need arises.

Under the bill, the Education secretary, with the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Health, shall issue guidelines in the selection, recruitment and hiring of personnel.