Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has today signed the Philippine Mental Health Law or Republic Act 11036. This was shared today by one of the bill’s authors, Senator Risa Hontiveros via a Facebook post.
Filed two years ago, the law would “secure the rights and welfare of persons with mental health needs, [empower] mental health professionals, provide mental health services down to the barangays [community], integrate psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services in regional, provincial, and tertiary hospitals, improve our mental healthcare facilities and promote mental health education in our schools and workplaces,” wrote Hontiveros.
According to ABS-CBN News, this means that the government-backed Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will now provide coverage for patients’ confinement, check-ups, and medicines.
The news was met with positive reception by advocates of the law. Tweeted commercial model and lifestyle journalist Kate Alvarez: “Thanks to all the mental health advocates and allies who have tirelessly fought through the stigma and ignorance for years.”
We finally have a mental health law. Thanks to all the mental health advocates and allies who have tirelessly fought through the stigma and ignorance for years. 💙#mentalhealth #mentalhealthPH #mentalhealthlaw #mentalhealthmatters @risahontiveros pic.twitter.com/jnZhZFcfBU
— Kate Alvarez (@k8alvarez) June 21, 2018
Mental health group SOS Philippines, of which Alvarez is part of, dedicated the historic win to “fellow Filipinos, whether you are (sic) suffering in silence, are helping a loved one cope, or have survived the darkness.”
Wrote MentalHealthPH: “The passage of the law is indeed a substantial investment in development on a national scale – [it will lead to the] provision of more programs as well as services to the public in all hospitals, be it psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic, [the] institutionalization of mental health promotion and education through [the] integration of mental health to the school curriculum, and enhancement of our health system to integrate mental health services up to the community level.”
Another organization, Silakbo PH, encouraged advocates to monitor the law’s implementing rules and regulations and support the “LGBTQIA+, women, children, the impoverished, workers in unjust conditions [as well as] ethnic and racial minorities. We cannot begin to address the mental health of these marginalized sectors without first safeguarding their physical safety, fundamental human rights and human dignity.”
Seven Filipinos commit suicide every day, as per data released by the World Health Organization in 2012. According to the Department of Health, one in five adults in the Philippines suffers from a form of psychiatric disorder.
For individuals based in the Philippines seeking counseling, you can contact the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation at the following numbers:
Information and Crisis Intervention Center
(02) 804-HOPE (4673)
0917-558-HOPE (4673) or (632) 211-4550
0917-852-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-6876
0917-842-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-4084
In Touch Crisis Lines:
0917-572-HOPE or (632) 211-1305
(02) 893-7606 (24/7)
(02) 893-7603 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm)
Globe (63917) 800.1123 or (632) 506.7314
Sun (63922) 893.8944 or (632) 346.8776
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