Bill providing mental health programs for teachers filed in Senate

A bill seeking to provide mental health assessments and programs for teachers to promote their welfare and well-being has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Mark Villar has filed Senate Bill 2258 to strengthen the promotion and delivery of mental health services for teachers by establishing programs and services.

“Teachers have long been considered as heroes because of their indispensable contribution to life and to the well-being of the youth. However, despite being considered as heroes, teachers can be victims too—victims of trauma, mental and emotional fatigue that they usually keep to themselves,” Villar said in his explanatory note.

These traumas, he said, may eventually have a detrimental effect on mental health.

Villar likewise pointed out that teachers’ mental health may also be impacted by a variety of variables, including a heavy workload, long hours, and large class sizes.

“These constant stresses might have an adverse effect on one’s physical and emotional well-being. Additionally, there is lack of assistance from coworkers and support from the administration in recognizing the mental health of the teacher, which makes it more difficult for them to seek help and to ease their sufferings,” Villar said.

Under the bill, the Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Philippine Mental Health Association, will establish and promote the following programs and services for the teachers:

• Regular mental health assessments every school semester, conducted by registered and licenses psychologists or related professionals
• Regular counselling sessions, focusing on stress management, emotional stability, and coping mechanisms
• Stress-reduction programs, such as workshops that teach mindfulness, meditation, relaxation techniques, and time-management
• Access to peer support groups and mentoring programs for teachers, with focus on creating a safe space for expression and collaboration
• Periodic seminars led by mental health professionals to raise awareness and improve understanding about mental health issues among teachers
• Establishment of Mental Health and Wellness Liaisons to assist and connect teachers to mental health care providers as needed, and to monitor the progress of well-being programs within their schools or regions
• Promote work-life balance through the formation of interest-based clubs, sports competitions, and other recreational opportunities

The financial assistance necessary for the implementation of the programs and services proposed in the bill will be included in the annual national budget under the DepEd and the DOH. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News