SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian assured that the 2024 national budget has allocated P210 million for the implementation of mental health programs and advocacies of the Department of Education.

Gatchalian originally proposed P160 million for the implementation of mental health programs to address the mental crisis plaguing the country’s schools.

Based on DepEd data, 1,686 learners died by suicide between School Year 2017-2018 and SY 2022-2023, while 7,892 learners attempted suicide.

“Mahalagang matutukan natin ang pagpapatibay at epektibong pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng ating mga paaralan para sa mental health. Kaya tiniyak natin na sa ilalim ng 2024 budget, makakapaglaan tayo ng pondo para sa mga programa ng DepEd para sa mental health at masuportahan ang ating mga mag-aaral,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

International large-scale assessments showed the high prevalence of bullying in the country’s schools.

The senator’s office analyzed the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics data and found that compared to their peers in Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ Grade 5 learners had the highest exposure to bullying, aggression, violence, and offensive behavior.

Gatchalian has been advocating for the passage of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act to institutionalize the School-Based Mental Health Program.

The Senate approved the proposed measure on the third and final reading last September.