MENTAL health professionals on Monday called on lawmakers to pass the mental health law.
At a news conference in Quezon City, Dr. Bolet Bautista of the Psychological Association of the Philippines said the citizens’ mental health is important to the country's economy, and that the Senate and Congress must pass the bill as a "Christmas gift" to the people.
"A person or a group of persons having a stable mind can be translated to greater productivity and better economy," she told reporters.
She called on the House of Representatives to support and pass House Bill No. 6452 or the Comprehensive Mental Health Act on its third and final reading once session resumes on Nov. 20.
"Health is essential to development, and there is no health without mental health," Dr. June Lopez of the Philippine Psychiatric Association said.
"The bill's passage into law will seal the government's commitment to promote mental health services to Filipinos who need it," she added.
Citing data from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, the group said seven million Filipinos commit suicide every day, and that one in five Filipino adults suffer from a certain mental health concern.
Lopez said the most common mental health issues are depression and schizophrenia.
"This is a cause for alarm and should be addressed urgently," she noted.
With the bill's passage, mental health advocates can offer more programs to enhance the resilience of individuals, families and communities, she said.