Senator Bong Go has once again expressed his support for efforts to strengthen the country’s mental health programs, noting that mental health has been a pressing issue in recent years, especially during the pandemic, as Filipinos have faced unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
In an ambush interview after personally aiding residents in Baguio City, Go shared that the government has allocated significant funds to mental health services and awareness-raising initiatives.
“Mayroon pong P1.86 billion ang DOH po for mental health medicines, under the 2023 national budget mayroon din pong P12 million budget for mental health awareness and hotline.”
“Mayroon pong P1.86 billion ang DOH po for mental health medicines, under the 2023 national budget mayroon din pong P12 million budget for mental health awareness and hotline,” the legislator said.
The lawmaker highlighted that, as Senate Committee Chair on Health, he has consistently advocated for increased funding for mental health programs.
For example, in 2021, the DOH was granted an additional P384 million for its mental health program, while in 2022, an additional P200 million was allocated for the same purpose.
One of the key initiatives that the government is pursuing to improve mental health services, according to the senator, is the improvement of benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the national health insurance program.
The 2023 budget includes a special provision for this purpose, with a focus on mental health packages.
This provision is crucial given the sharp increase in mental health issues during the pandemic, as highlighted by Go who also expressed concern regarding the high number of suicide cases among students.
“Alam n’yo marami pong mga kababayan natin ang apektado noong panahon ng pandemya, ang iba po nag-e-experience ng depression, ‘yung iba nga po nagpapakamatay. Pati nga po mga estudyante po may mga cases po about 20 million enrollees, mga 400 plus po ang nagtangkang magpakamatay,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate ambush interview in Cebu City, Go noted that there has also been a rise in violent incidents, and mental health problems have emerged among schoolchildren.
“Alam n’yo, sa panahon ng pandemya, marami ang naka-experience ng depression. So, kailangan tutukan ang mental health,” he stressed.
“Mayroon nga pong panawagan ang PhilHealth na dagdagan pa ang kanilang pondo para po sa mental health services for children amid the increase of violent incidence, the emergence of mental health problems among school kids, suportado ko po ito,” he added.
To address these challenges, Go also shared that the government is working to strengthen mental health services across the country, saying, “Dapat po tutukan natin ang ating mental health programs sa ating bansa. Mayroon din pong National Center for Mental Health sa Mandaluyong (City) at mayroon din pong Malasakit Center (doon).”
These initiatives, according to him, are critical in ensuring that people with mental health issues receive the support they need to recover and lead fulfilling lives.
Go remains firm in advocating for greater government interventions that would effectively address mental health issues.
Go’s Senate Bill No. 1786 mandates public higher education institutions to establish Mental Health Offices, including the hiring, deployment, and training of additional HEI-based mental health service personnel.
He filed Senate Bill No. 1786 which mandates public higher education institutions to establish Mental Health Offices, including the hiring, deployment, and training of additional HEI-based mental health service personnel.
Go also serves as co-author of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s SBN 379, otherwise known as the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which aims to provide mental health services, emotional, developmental and preventive programs, and other support services in the basic education level.
“Nakakabahala po ito dahil nasa batang edad pa po nakapag-isip na sila ng gano’n. Alam n’yo nakakalungkot eh, kaya nga po lumabas tayo sa mundong ito para mabuhay, lumaki at tumanda at ang iba nawawalan ng pag-asa at nade-depressed. Nakakabahala, the more na tutukan natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga kabataan,” he stressed.
Go also noted that former president Rodrigo Duterte has earlier signed Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Act, which establishes a national mental health policy directed towards improving the health of the population.
The said Act also underlines the right of all Filipinos to mental health care while shaping the structural and attitudinal challenges to achieving positive mental health.
Specifically, it aims to provide mental health services at the barangay level, and integrate mental health and wellness programs at the grassroots level so that interventions will be felt by the communities. It also seeks to improve mental health facilities and promote mental health education in schools and workplaces.
