TIMELY LAW ON MENTAL HEALTH

THIS is a reaction to the editorial “There is help” (6/14/18).

The increasing number of suicide cases in the country is truly alarming. Since 90 percent of the people who commit suicide have an underlying mental illness, it is very timely that President Duterte has finally signed Republic Act No. 11036, or the Philippine Mental Health Law. This is also thanks to the perseverance of psychiatrists and families whose members are suffering from mental illness. They are the ones who lobbied for 20 years in Congress for this law to be enacted.

Mental health care is normally provided by institutions in Manila. We are an archipelago of 7,100 islands. Those who need mental health care but live in the provinces would have to go to Manila or other urban centers for treatment. Unfortunately, not all of those who are suffering from mental illness can afford a trip to such places. Some end up being locked up in their house, if not chained and padlocked, during their “episodes.”

But with this law, people need not go all the way to Manila to be treated, since the service will already be available at the barangay level. While this will not happen overnight, it is definitely the start of something good. Each citizen’s good health contributes to the overall health of the country. And there is no real good health without sound mental health.