Why Filipinos Need a Mental Health Law

Mental health has always been a misunderstood topic among Filipinos, which is precisely why a national law on mental health will be a sign of progress in addressing the issues surrounding it.

A mental health law will also provide help for those who are suffering from mental health illnesses like depression, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. She also believes that continuous research on the subject has helped the Department of Health in addressing the issues.

“The advocates have been drafting this bill and re-drafting it and re-filing it, congress after congress within the past 2 decades. And so have refined it further and further. Nasabayan pa nung continuous research about this phenomenon in order to build database to enable the Department of Health now to really provide psychiatric, neurological and psychosocial services down the line up to the grassroots level with different sectors of mental health and in general health service providers,” she said.

“During all this time when we were not yet successful in passing a national law, there were also locally-based, community-based mental health programs that were put into action by different sectors of advocates working together in different localities – local health providers, supportive sections of the private sector there. And this formed part of the data that the researchers documented, and now our wealth of information for us to learn from and possibly to replicate in areas where they would be appropriate and where they would also be helpful,” Hontiveros added.

Dr. Gia Sison, Youth for Mental Health Coalition national adviser, said that it’s time to talk about mental health issues to break the stigma.

“We always say depression is an illness, but it doesn’t define the person, and it can hit anyone. It has nothing to do with success also. So the least that we can do is to keep talking about it, and as what Senator Risa mentioned, it’s really to break the stigma. I think it’s about time that we start talking about mental health openly,” she said.

One of the groups in the Philippines that’s dedicated to help and listen to those who have mental health problems as well as promote awareness about depressions is the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation. They have 24/7 “Hopelines” for those who are in emotional crisis and in need of immediate assistance.

Their hopeline numbers are:

Information and Crisis Intervention Center:

(02) 804-HOPE (4673)

0917-558-HOPE (4673) or (632) 211-4550

0917-852-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-6876

0917-842-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-4084

In Touch Crisis Lines:

0917-572-HOPE or (632) 211-1305

(02) 893-7606 (24/7)

(02) 893-7603 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm)

Globe (63917) 800.1123 or (632) 506.7314

Sun (63922) 893.8944 or (632) 346.8776

You can learn more about the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation here: http://www.ngf-hope.org/

via ABS-CBN News / Rose Carmelle Lacuata