Philippines lawmaker pushes for mental health centers in every region
AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes has co-authored House Bill (HB) No. 3582, also known as the proposed Mental Health Center Establishment Act, with the aim of addressing the serious concern of mental health issues among Filipinos.
In an effort to make mental health care more accessible in the provinces, Reyes emphasized the need for mental health centers in every region. He expressed concern over recent figures from the Department of Health (DOH) which showed that at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.
Reyes stressed that despite the increasing number of people suffering from mental health issues, access to mental health services in the country remains limited due to stigma and lack of resources.
Under the proposed statute, the Department of Health (DOH) would be responsible for establishing centers in the different provinces and regions to ensure that mental health services are readily available for all Filipinos.
Reyes hopes that through the bill, diagnosis, treatment, and care for mental health issues will become more accessible to Filipinos. The bill is currently pending before the House Committee on Health.
