Comprehensive Mental Health Act passes second reading

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the proposed Comprehensive Mental Health Act as lawmakers underscored the significance of the recent observance of the World Mental Health Month.

Authored by Antipolo City Rep. Chiqui Roa-Puno, House Bill 6452 or the Comprehensive Mental Health Act proposes the integration of mental health care with the country’s primary health care delivery system.

HB 6452 consolidated Roa-Puno’s legislative proposal with 10 other measures authored by Reps. Miro Quimbo (LP, Marikina City); Pia Cayetano (NP, Taguig City); Ron Salo (Kabayan Partylist); Teddy Brawner Baguilat (LP, Ifugao); Tomasito Villarin (Akbayan Partylist) and John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto (UNA, Makati City).

“This is a landmark measure that will soon make timely and necessary mental health care services accessible not only in hospitals but also in community health facilities for all Filipinos, regardless of their status in life,” said Roa-Puno.

Roa-Puno, in her sponsorship speech of the measure, said: “We need to ease the pain of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos with mental health conditions who often suffer in silence, so that they no longer feel alone and helpless in dealing with their mental health woes.’

Aside from integrating mental health care with the general health delivery system, HB 6452 also promotes the study of mental health in both elementary and secondary educational system to prevent depression, obesity, teenage pregnancy and other mental health issues among students.

Under the bill, all regional, provincial and tertiary hospitals are mandated to provide psychiatric, psychosocial and neurologic services to all patients requiring treatment.

It also seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Mental health Council as an attached agency of the Department of Health.

Among the rights of persons with mental illness provided under the bill are the following: humane treatment and respect; protection from economic, sexual and other forms of exploitation, not to be discriminated on the ground of mental illness, access to treatment with the same quality and standards as other individuals and access to after care and rehabilitation treatment.

The bill also guarantees the observance of rights of family members, carers and legal representatives such as receipt of appropriate psycho-social support from government; participation in formulation, development and implementation of the service user’s individualized treatment plan and participation in mental health advocacy, policy planning and others.

“This measure seeks to promote mental wellness, prevent the progress of mental health problems, through intervention and properly address existing mental disorders,” Roa-Puno said.

According to her, the World Health Organization reported in 2012 that the Philippines has the highest incidence of depression in southeast Asia, affecting at least 4.5 million Filipinos then.

Roa Puno said that the WHO has also reported a high rate of co-morbidity between mental disorders and other diseases such as HIV, cardiovascular ailment, and diabetes, underscoring the need to place equal importance on mental health in primary care.