THE numbers for suicide or attempted suicide among students in basic education are low when compared to similar figures from the more affluent countries in Asia. But they still bear watching and are a cause for concern.In the previous school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) recorded 254 suicides and 1,492 suicide attempts among students in basic education. These figures were higher than the 198 suicides and 941 attempts in school year 2022-2023.The figures were highest during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The DepEd recorded 404 suicides and 2,147 attempts by students when the pandemic overrun the country.A University of the Philippines Population Institute study on Youth Adult Fertility and Sexuality found that 20 percent of Filipinos between the ages of 15 and 25 have thought of killing themselves. During the same year, 7.5 percent of Filipino youths tried to commit suicide. This translates to about 1.5 million Filipino youths.It's in this context that we hail the passage of Republic Act 12080, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which covers both private and public schools. With less than 1 percent seeking professional help, those contemplating suicide will now have help coming their way.The law seeks to institutionalize school-based mental health services not only for basic education students but also for teachers and non-teaching staff. The services include screening, evaluation, monitoring of mental well-being, mental health first aid as well as crisis response and referral.Each school division is required to set up an office dedicated to mental and emotional well-being. Over 4,000 posts will be created for mental health counselors. This last fact is especially important, for there was a grave lack of funding to hire counselors before, which exacerbated the issue of worsening mental health among the young.During the signing of the law at Malacañan Palace last Dec. 9, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said: 'The need for this legislation is urgent and undeniable. Globally, mental health concerns are escalating. In the Philippines, the statistics are alarming.'Beyond being a safeguard to our youth and school personnel, this law is also an investment in the intellectual, emotional, and social function and development of our nation. ... Schools are our first line of defense against mental health issues.'We await the implementing rules and regulations for this important law, with inputs coming from all sectors. Following this, we need to monitor its implementation. Many of our mental health professionals have gone overseas, where a hefty paycheck awaits them. The Department of Budget and Management, the DepEd and the Civil Service Commission will create plantilla positions for the school counselors.The World Health Organization has recommended a ratio of one psychiatrist for 10,000 people. They have also pegged the ideal ratio of one psychologist for every 5,000 people and one school counselor or psychologist for 500 students.We only have around 1,700 psychologists. By law, guidance counselors are required to have a master's degree. Reportedly, the government will lower training requirements or accept those with graduate units.The DepEd also welcomed the passage of the Basic Education Mental Health Act. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the new law could help students deal with the 'unprecedented changes' in their environment that could be affecting their mental health.There are also economic and social losses from neglecting mental health. The consequences can be found in decreased academic outcomes and burnout. There are also faster turnover rates among personnel and higher drop-out rates among students. This new law will help in reducing such losses, making our students, teachers and academic staff more productive and ready to help in building the nation.Moreover, the DepEd has made an announcement that will also boost the morale of teachers and academic staff. It will release the P20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for teaching and non-teaching personnel starting Dec. 20, 2024. This is a first for the agency's staff to receive the maximum grant allowed.As instructed by President Marcos, Secretary Angara and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman worked together to provide the full amount of P20,000 SRI for 2024. This is the biggest disbursement of the SRI in the history of the DepEd.This amount is not to be sneezed at, coming as it does at the end of a difficult year. It is a testament to how much we value the dedication and sacrifice of our education frontliners, who work hard amid many challenges.
