THE Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading the proposed measure that seeks to ensure the well-being of students through accessible mental health programs.

Senate Bill 2200 aims to institutionalize the School-Based Mental Health Program, which covers learners in public and private basic education institutions as well as out-of-school children in special cases such as those with disabilities or conditions, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, learners in emergency situations, and other marginalized sectors.

Authored by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the bill mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to establish and maintain Care Centers in every public basic education institution and ensure their establishment and maintenance in private basic education institutions.

These Care Centers must equip learners with skills and information for prevention, identification, and proper response and referral for their own and others’ mental health needs.

They must also facilitate the efficient referral for appropriate intervention and the provision of adequate aftercare support by other appropriate agencies, institutions, organizations, or professionals, as well as improve the mental health awareness and literacy of teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The bill aims to create the new plantilla positions of Mental Health Associates I to V and Mental Health Specialists I to V and seeks the conversion of existing plantilla positions of Guidance Counselors and Psychologists in the DepEd to Mental Health Specialists.

Gatchalian earlier said that as of July 2022, there were only 1,192 filled positions for both guidance counselors and coordinators within the DepEd.

A total of 404 learners in public schools died by suicide, 2,147 attempted to end their lives, and 775,962 asked for guidance counseling in School Year 2021-2022, the DepEd told a Senate inquiry earlier this year.