In the face of mounting national concern over mental health, professionals from the University of the Philippines system and the Department of Health convened last January 21 at the Philippe Jones Lhuillier Conference Room, 14th floor of the Henry Sy Sr. Hall, for the Knowledge Forum on the Philippine Mental Health Law.
Signed last June 2018, Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Law aims to improve access to mental health services nationwide by establishing a national mental health policy.
Dr. Ador Torneo, director of the DLSU Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance, shared the forum’s goal of educating people about the Mental Health Law and its journey to break past the primary step of legislation. He further praised the progress made toward the discussion of mental health relative to previous years, narrating, “When I was a student, I did not really hear these kinds of things…We are now more open to talking about mental health. [There is] much greater awareness and discussion for a topic that used to be kind of taboo.”
Two decades in the making
Constructing the law was a painstaking task. Dr. June Pagaduan Lopez, a professor from the Philippine General Hospital-University of the Philippines’ Department of Psychiatry, expressed her pride while reminiscing about how the efforts of local psychiatrists, psychologists, and neurologists had finally culminated in the signing of the law after 18 years.
The lack of mental health professionals was a central factor that legislators had to account for when they drafted the bill—there are only 600 psychiatrists in the country for approximately 130 million Filipinos, Lopez said. The law’s parameters outlined the provision of mental health services down to universities, workplaces, and individual communities.
Torneo explained that a comprehensive effort is needed to realize the goal of the law, “Mental health is just too big [of] an undertaking for any single organization, university, even agency to undertake. [It] actually entails a collaboration and partnership of many agencies.”
Although the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations had already been signed last January 22, 2019, putting it into action proved to be a struggle. “The thing about laws is that once laws are passed, there is usually an expectation that the law will implement itself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way,” Torneo said, adding that such was one of the primary reasons that spurred the open forum.
Lopez expressed agreement with Torneo, highlighting the need to take action under the law’s oversight. “It’s [been a] long time coming. It’s something that we really need, considering the sudden rise of mental health problems [and] even suicide [cases] among our young ones,” she stressed.
Among community and institutions
For Lopez, special attention must be given to the barangay or community setting. Presenting a series of pictures, she explained how persons with mental disabilities sometimes end up shackled and caged “like animals” because local authorities are not trained to address mental health concerns—subjecting these individuals to “the highest risk for human abuse”, according to Lopez.
The need for mental health care has been rising because of unexpected events, such as calamities. Lopez criticized government response that only closed in on tangible human problems. An example she pointed out was how disaster relief operations are focused on providing food and clothes to those affected but fail to support their mental well-being.
Dr. Noel Reyes, OIC-Chief Medical and Professional Staff of the National Center for Mental Health, proposed that training for barangay officials to deal with mental health problems and integrating mental health education in school curriculums as ways to address the situation.
Principles behind well-being
Dr. Anselmo Tronco, Head of Social and Community Psychiatry at the Philippine General Hospital, presented a number of principles surrounding mental health, covering various elements from family and spirituality, to resilience and cultural sensitivity. “We need to document and give a spirit of hope,” said Tronco, emphasizing the public health aspect of mental health.
Reyes mentioned how recognizing an individual’s well-being is significant to mental health, “The paradigm is now shifting not [to] treatment but on the [individual’s] total well-being, and we should be able to address all those concerns.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Lorenzo Bautista of the Asian Theological Seminary explained how the concept of ginhawa or comfort was adapted as a sign of well-being in the University of the Philippines Diliman. “Ginhawa is not merely [the] absence of mental illness but more importantly [it] is complete social and mental well-being,” he explained.
Less than a year since the law’s passing, the Philippines has yet to achieve visible implementation. However, mental health specialists remain hopeful that with the proper implementation of the law, the government will be able to provide quality services to their constituents.
