In observance of World Mental Health Day, Senator Imee Marcos urged the government to take urgent and concrete steps to address the country’s growing mental health crisis.
“Our mental health care system must reach those who need it most… Mental health is not a luxury, it is a basic right,” she said.
Marcos filed Senate Bill No. 1171, which seeks to amend the Mental Health Act by establishing community-based mental health centers in every province, city, and town cluster. These centers would offer free treatment and support, prioritizing minors, the homeless, and abuse victims, with funding from the national government.
Citing data from the Philippine Psychiatric Association, she noted that the country has only two psychiatrists for every 100,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 10.
ASEAN surveys also show that Filipino youth are among the most affected by mental health issues in the region.
“With the rising prices of goods, the constant floods and disasters, and the endless corruption scandals that test our patience every day–mental health care can no longer take a backseat,” according to the senator.
Marcos called on experts and professionals, including those abroad, to help strengthen the mental health system by training counselors, empowering nurses, and supporting teachers pursuing mental health certifications.
“Filipinos are tired, stressed, struggling to survive. It’s time the government treated mental health with the same urgency it gives to political scandals and profit,” she said.IMT
