Alarmed by rising cases of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among Filipino youth, Parañaque Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan is pushing for the mandatory establishment of Mental Health Offices in all state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Yamsuan filed House Bill No. 7354, which seeks to institutionalize campus-based mental health services, including hotlines, counseling programs, and the deployment of trained psychologists and mental health professionals in SUCs nationwide.
The lawmaker said the proposal comes as more college students face emotional and psychological struggles brought by academic pressure, financial difficulties, isolation from family, and other personal challenges.
“Our proposed legislation will address these gaps in the implementation of government programs aimed at effectively responding to the growing mental health crisis among our youth,” Yamsuan said.
Under the bill, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) would supervise the creation of Mental Health Offices tasked to provide counseling, suicide prevention initiatives, and awareness campaigns on mental wellness.
The measure also seeks to establish campus hotlines similar to the Department of Education’s Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline.
Yamsuan cited data from the University of the Philippines Population Institute showing that 7.5 percent of Filipinos aged 15 to 24 have experienced suicidal thoughts, more than double the 3 percent recorded in 2013.
He also pointed to Philippine Statistics Authority figures showing 3,133 deaths due to intentional self-harm, with nearly 30 percent involving individuals aged 15 to 24 years old.
“Hindi lamang academic pressure kundi stress, anxiety, depression at iba pang mental health concerns ang maaaring maranasan ng mga college students,” Yamsuan said.
If enacted, the bill would require SUCs to hire and continuously train mental health professionals within five years to strengthen support systems for students and school personnel.
