SENATOR Mark Villar filed a bill that aims to establish programs and services to support the mental health and wellness of teachers.

Senate Bill 2258 or the proposed Teacher Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2023 seeks to ensure that teachers’ mental, emotional and psychological well-being will be given the same importance as their professional development.

Villar said despite being considered as heroes, teachers can also be victims of trauma, mental and emotional fatigue that they usually keep to themselves.

“These may eventually have a detrimental effect on mental health. Teachers’ mental health may be impacted by a variety of variables, including a heavy workload, long hours, and large class sizes,” the senator said in his explanatory note.

These constant stresses he added might have an adverse effect on one’s physical and emotional well-being.

“Additionally, there is lack of assistance from coworkers and support from the administration in recognizing the mental health of the teacher, which makes it more difficult for them to seek help and to ease their sufferings,” Villar said.