Republic of the Philippines

EULOGIO “AMANG” RODRIGUEZ

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cavite Campus
General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite
_________________________________________________________
MNTLHLTH: DISASTER AND MENTAL HEALTH

Name: Vincent Jose O. Cruz Date Submitted: June 7, 2022

Course/Section: BSP 3A Score: ___________________

Assignment No.2: Mental Health Law & Mental Health in the Philippines
Direction: Read and familiarized the mental Health law posted in our classroom. Make a
brief reaction on the following news item and videos about the current status of mental
health situation in the Philippines posted below. Cite important articles or provisions in
the Mental health law that you consider significant and relevant on the different topics in
the news items and videos. Kindly justify your answers.
1. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/03/21/employers-tutol-panukalang-mental-
health-leave-manggagawa?fbclid=IwAR2RATbuQidWVlNrN6Ud8T--
CGkozlQjj7a_6sXGBSLIjxzsY5SztPJNzq0
other source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnI2a2ArEEg

 In the midst of a pandemic, this article discussed how to prepare to offer

employees additional days off for mental health wellness, with a focus on
supporting mental health treatments by introducing greater leave to prevent
mental health concerns. The Mental Health Act's Section 2 states the state's
commitment to enhancing people's well-being by ensuring that mental health
is acknowledged, promoted, and protected, while Section 3 integrates mental
health promotion strategies in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Unfortunately, the President of the ECOP was not in favor of such a move.

2. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1417703/flaws-aside-online-learning-takes-toll-on-
students-mental-health

 It also has an impact on the educational system and teaching scheme in our
modern normal society. Burnout, stress, and unstable mental health affect
many students and teachers, including parents, who are prone to neurotic
tendencies. In this scenario, mental health assistance is critical. "Mental
health promotion in schools," according to Section 24, "universities shall
develop policies and programs for students, facilitators, and educators
designed to raise awareness and prevent mental issues," and "mental health
 programs should be enacted, especially in a situation like this where
everyone needs it," according to Section 34.
 
3. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/21/bilang-menor-de-edad-tumatawag-
mental-health-hotline-tumaas
 Because we are in an abnormal scenario, the number of minors suffering
from anxiety and depression symptoms, family troubles, academic/school
challenges, and love/relationship problems is increasing. The National Center
for Mental Health (NCMH) provides rapid interventions and assistance to
minors who are at risk of committing suicide. In accordance with Section 21,
mental health treatments must include mechanisms for suicide intervention,
prevention, and response techniques that are given special consideration.
Hotlines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help those with
mental illnesses. According to Section 29, the National Center of Mental
Health (NCMH) should increase its capacity for research and development of
mental and neurological interventions in the country. Most Filipinos cannot
afford therapy for this type of problem, but under Section 5 of the Mental
Health Act, anyone who requires immediate assistance has the right to
access mental health services at all levels of national health care, including
holistic prevention, promotion, rehabilitation, care, and support aimed at
addressing mental health needs, as well as affordable essential health and
social services.

4. https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/16/group-expresses-concerns-on-the-prevalence-of-
suicide-cases-among-youth/

 The Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association (PGCA) expressed

concern about the high number of reported cases and urged the Department
of Education (DepEd) to take steps to reduce the number of cases reported.
The fact that the Department of Education has flatly denied that these
instances are linked to modules. Even if they should, not all schools provide
mental health programs for their students and employees. In our
communities, we may also intervene and be intervened on mental health
issues. (Section 15) Community mental health services- Each local
government unit (LGU) and academic institution shall develop their own
program in collaboration with other stakeholders, based on the general
guidelines established by the Philippine Council for Mental Health, which was
established under this Act. The Mental Health Act's Section 2 states the
state's commitment to enhancing people's well-being by ensuring that mental
health is acknowledged, promoted, and protected, while Section 3 integrates
mental health promotion strategies in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Unfortunately, the President of the ECOP was not in favor of such a move.
5. https://www.rappler.com/nation/plantation-bay-resort-cebu-reprimands-mother-
child-with-autism

 The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and all other
relevant international and regional human rights conventions and
declarations, according to Section 2, "a person affected by mental health
conditions is able to exercise the full range of human rights and participate
fully in society and at work, free from stigmatization and discrimination." The
applicability of Republic Act No. 7277, as modified, sometimes known as the
"Magna Carta for Disabled Persons," to people with mental illnesses, as
described herein, is specifically acknowledged. According to the paper, the
resort's employees and management mishandled the situation. They instead
chastised the mother for having an autistic child. This is something that every
business should be aware of and be prepared to deal with. Every business
should be aware of and prepared to manage such a situation, as well as be
welcoming to those with disabilities. Section 5 also states that service
customers are entitled to all constitutionally granted rights, including those of
persons with disabilities, on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis.

6. https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/10/20/mental-health-facilities.html

 The real cost of mental health care in the Philippines is not affordable for a
normal Filipino citizen with a minimum wage salary. That is the most common
reason why the mental health of the Filipinos is not given adequate attention
and the government does not provide enough funds for the mental hospitals
that could accommodate people with mental issues for free. Section 14,
Quality of Mental Health Services; Section 15, Mental Health Services in the
Community; Section 16, Community-based Mental Health Care Facilities;
Section 18, Psychiatric, Psychosocial, and Neurologic Services in Regional,
Provincial, and Tertiary Hospitals; and Section 38, Upgrading of Local
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities. The quality of mental services here in
the Philippines was not competitive, especially in public mental hospitals, as
in other countries because of a lack of mental health workers and advocates.
The one solution offered by Hontiveros is that every community should have a
facility that can accommodate people with mental problems who need
immediate response from personal experts. The government should also
focus on this type of issue by expanding local hospitals and health care
facilities to accommodate more people with mental illnesses. Most Filipinos
cannot afford therapy for this type of problem, but under Section 5 of the
Mental Health Act, anyone who requires immediate assistance has the right
to access mental health services at all levels of national health care, including
holistic prevention, promotion, rehabilitation, care, and support aimed at
addressing mental health needs, as well as affordable essential health and
social services.

7. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/philippines-mental-health-care
  In the Philippines, mental health care is still not very studied and well known
in the public. Many Filipinos thought that mental health problems were just in
their minds and just invented by people who sought the attention of the public,
but in this time of pandemic, there has been progress in acknowledgement of
mental problems in the Philippines. As specified in Section 22, the public
should be made aware of this kind of matter by campaigning to raise the level
of awareness of the public. As described in Chapter V, educational promotion
of mental health in educational institutions and in the workplace is a huge
help to elevate awareness and knowledge. The stigma in our society should
be eradicated as soon as possible because it stops people from being open
about their mental health problems since they are afraid of being judged and
criticized by society.

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIMboKJtjMA

 The Filipinos who are on the fringe of society are not capable of undergoing
therapy from professionals, so it has resulted in the increasing percentage of
Filipinos who have experienced severe mental health problems. Because of
poverty, it is forcing them to stop seeking medication and intervention from it,
but with the help of mental health laws, the Filipinos could ask for help from
the government. Section 5 of Chapter 2 (Right of Service User) Access to
affordable essential health and social services for the purpose of achieving
the highest attainable standard of mental health. Access to mental health
services at all levels of the national health care system. Despite this, in the
case of the patient in this video, the two of them are suffering from severe
mental illness and require focused attention from doctors, as well as financial
support to continue taking their medication.

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlvxuqYcO-g

 This documentary demonstrates that poverty is a major barrier to receiving

medical treatment. If they have the opportunity to meet with a doctor, they will
be unable to give or maintain the medication advised by the doctor. One in
every three Filipinos suffers from mental disease, and it is conceivable that 28
million Filipinos suffer from mental illness. There are approximately 700
psychiatrists in the Philippines, which indicates that there are only two
clinicians for every 100,000 patients. The goal of the Mental Health legislation
is to compel the government to provide funding for free medicine,
consultation, and the establishment of mental health institutions in every
town. Furthermore, mental health legislation fosters the development of more
mental health advocates or experts in our nation.

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4M8HF3ODYI

 This documentation is identical to the previous documentation. It is apparent

that poverty is the greatest barrier to Filipino families seeking treatment for
their mentally ill relatives. The government and LGUs in every community,
living in rural regions, should develop a program or report for those individuals
who can afford to be treated and allow higher-level local government
authorities to allocate funding for assistance, prevention, and intervention.