By: Atty. Gregorio B. Austral, CPA
The critical role of mental and well-being in education
under Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act
The State recognizes the vital role of children and the youth in nation-building and shall foster and protect their holistic well-being. The State also affirms its policy to promote mental health and well-being in educational institutions. To this end, the State shall ensure that learners and personnel.
Premised on the foregoing state policy, Congress passed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (Republic Act No. 12080) which aims to bolster mental health services within the Philippine education system. The law acknowledges the critical role of mental health in a child’s overall well-being and academic success. Its primary objectives include strengthening existing mental health programs, establishing Care Centers in every school, creating Mental Health and Well-Being Offices in each Schools Division Office, and hiring and training specialized personnel.
The Act mandates the development of a comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Program, focusing on mental health awareness and addressing mental health concerns among learners. This program will encompass various services such as screening, mental health first aid, crisis response, and emotional support programs.
The law also emphasizes the establishment of Care Centers in all schools, equipped with facilities to provide a confidential and accessible space for mental health services. Existing Guidance and Counseling Offices will be converted to Care Centers, and secondary schools can utilize Career Guidance and Counseling Program Centers for this purpose.
Each Care Center will be led by a School Counselor, assisted by a School Counselor Associate and support personnel. These individuals will be responsible for developing localized mental health programs, providing counseling services, maintaining records, and monitoring learners’ mental health needs. They will also train teachers and personnel in mental health awareness and facilitate referrals to external agencies when necessary.
To ensure efficient implementation, the Act creates a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in every Schools Division Office. This office will oversee the mental health programs of schools under its jurisdiction, review and approve school-based programs, and provide training and capacity-building for Care Center personnel.
The Act outlines the creation of new plantilla positions within the Department of Education, including School Counselor Associates and School Counselors at various levels, and Schools Division Counselors. It prioritizes the hiring of Schools Division Counselors and allows for the assignment of teachers to deliver mental health services under the supervision of qualified personnel, with provisions for honoraria and capacity-building. To ensure a pipeline of qualified professionals, the Act encourages collaboration between the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to develop scholarship programs for aspiring School Counselors and School Counselor Associates, requiring a return service commitment in the DepEd. It also mandates the inclusion of mental health courses in teacher education programs.
The Act emphasizes confidentiality in mental health support services, ensuring that communication between learners and mental health personnel remains privileged. Exceptions to this confidentiality are made in cases of imminent harm to self or others, legal obligations, or consent from the learner, parent, or legal guardian.
The Act also outlines the progressive realization of its objectives, with the Department of Education providing yearly targets for the establishment of offices and centers, hiring of personnel, capacity-building programs, and funding requirements. A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee is established to monitor and oversee the implementation of the Act, ensuring its effectiveness in promoting mental health and well-being in basic education.