President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. signed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act on Monday, a groundbreaking law designed to enhance mental health initiatives in schools and establish new plantilla positions for school counselors.
“When our learners and school personnel are mentally healthy, academic performance improves, absenteeism decreases, and a culture of compassion and understanding flourishes,” President Marcos Jr. said.
Photo courtesy: DepEd website
PBBM has signed the Act, a landmark measure aimed at enhancing mental health support in public and private basic education institutions. The law mandates the establishment of a comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Program, which also extends its provisions to out-of-school children in special cases. Its primary objectives include promoting mental health awareness, addressing mental health issues, and strengthening suicide prevention efforts in schools.
A key component of the law is the institutionalization of school-based mental health services. These services will cover the screening, assessment, and monitoring of students’ mental well-being, as well as mental health first aid, crisis intervention, and referral mechanisms for those in need of further support.
To facilitate these initiatives, the Department of Education (DepEd) is directed to set up Care Centers in all public schools and ensure that similar facilities are maintained in private schools. Existing guidance and counseling offices will be rebranded and converted into Care Centers, serving as hubs for mental health services and providing students with access to personalized support systems.
The law also calls for the creation of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office within every school division office. These offices will oversee the development and implementation of school-based mental health programs, review and approve their rollout, and conduct periodic visits to ensure effectiveness. Additionally, they will be responsible for training personnel to deliver mental health services to students.
Photo courtesy: Freepik
To support these efforts, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with DepEd and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), will establish new plantilla positions for school counselors. These positions will include roles such as School Counselor Associate I to V, School Counselor I to IV, and Schools Division Counselor, with existing posts being reclassified accordingly.
“This is a vital step forward in ensuring our learners are not only academically equipped but also mentally healthy. We thank President Marcos and the members of Congress for supporting our efforts to build a system that prioritizes our children’s holistic development,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
The ceremonial signing of the law took place at Malacañang, with lawmakers, including Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as DepEd officials, in attendance.
