Manila: With youth mental health issues becoming more prevalent, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is calling for the immediate implementation of the School-Based Mental Health Program under Republic Act No. 12080 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act. The law's implementing rules and regulations have been finalized. Gatchalian said the law must result in tangible mental health support for students.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated, "Mental health should be a priority, not an afterthought." He emphasized the importance of embedding mental health services into schools to provide learners with immediate support before their struggles affect their education and well-being.

The program mandates screening, crisis response, first aid, and awareness initiatives to ensure that students, especially those in public and private schools and the Alternative Learning System, receive help. Under the law, every public school must establish a Care Center, which will be staffed by registered guidance counselors or psychologists.

At a broader level, Schools Division Offices must set up Mental Health and Well-Being Offices to cater to both students and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel. To address the nationwide shortage of guidance counselors, the law creates new plantilla positions for School Counselor Associates I to V, allowing individuals with degrees in Guidance and Counseling or Psychology to provide school-based mental health support.

Gatchalian emphasized that schools must not only be centers for learning but also safe spaces for emotional and psychological well-being. He also urged the DepEd to ensure that the mental health program is properly funded, fully staffed, and widely accessible.