Amid alarming reports on campus bullying, a House leader renewed his call for stronger protection and support systems for learners—especially those in higher education—through his proposed Campus Mental Health Improvement Act (House Bill 3397).
House deputy minority leader and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas issued the call as the Department of Education (DepEd) records thousands of bullying cases annually, ranging from physical assaults to cyberbullying. In school year 2021–2022 alone, DepEd reported 404 student suicides and 2,147 suicide attempts.
Vargas said that despite the magnitude of the problem, only two percent of schools nationwide have fully functioning Child Protection Committees. He stressed that most policies focus only on children in basic education, leaving those in college still struggling with the scars of bullying.
HB 3397 seeks to expand mental and behavioral health services in colleges and universities. It proposes training for faculty, staff, and student leaders to detect and respond to mental health concerns, as well as awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage students to seek help.
Vargas emphasized that investing in mental health is both a moral duty and an economic necessity, noting that healthy students grow into stronger professionals and citizens. Globally, UNESCO has warned that school violence undermines mental health, while the Department of Health estimates that more than 3 million Filipinos suffer from conditions such as depression and anxiety.
