Focusing on mental health

Jonalyn N. Haylo

THE OK sa DepEd showcases six major school health programs of the Department which include the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP); National Drug Education Program (NDEP); Adolescent Reproductive Health Education (ARH); Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools (WinS) Program; medical, nursing, and dental services; and the newly added program, the School Mental Health Program.

The addition of the School Mental Health Program is on top of its existing policies and guidelines on mental health, including the conduct of trainings on mental health and psychosocial support, and the issuance of policies as complex as child protection and addressing bullying, and even as simple as unloading children of homework during weekends.

DepEd, taking into account the rising incidence of suicide cases, depression, bullying, and other psychosocial behavior problems, vows to continue and strengthen its advocacy to ensure the health and well-being of both DepEd personnel and learners, in partnership with various agencies and organizations.

It wants to ensure that employees, not only students, are healthy and include them in the mental health program.

This is also in consonance with the Republic Act (RA) 11036 or the Mental Health Act, which provides the duties and responsibilities of the DepEd in institutionalizing a comprehensive school mental health policy.

These include the integration of age-appropriate content pertaining to mental health into the curriculum at all educational levels both in public and private institutions; development of guidelines and standards on age-appropriate and evidencebased mental-health programs both in public and private institutions; pursuit of strategies that promote the realization of mental health and well-being in educational institutions; and the assurance that mental health promotions in public and private educational institutions shall be adequately complemented with qualified mental-health professionals.

Students should always be healthy, because when they have a healthy body and a healthy mind, they can actively participate in the learning activities in school.

The author is Teacher I at Tabing Bakod Elementary School