Camille Villar prods gov’t to prevent bullying in schools
SENATORIAL candidate Camille Villar is urging government to institutionalize targeted intervention measures in the education sector to promote the mental health and well-being of students and prevent mental health disorders that lead to school bullying in learning institutions.
“Mahalagang siguruhin natin ang mental wellness ng ating mga mag-aaral. Kailangan natin siguruhin na sila ay nasa hustong estado ng pag-iisip, lalo pa’t alam naman natin na malaki ang impluwensiya ng peer pressure at discrimination sa mga paaralan na kadalasan ay nagiging dahilan ng bullying,” Villar said.
To address the uptick in incidents of school bullying, the Deputy said learning institutions should hire more guidance counselors to do regular counselling consultations with students and assess their mental well-being.
Villar also said it is important to improve the mental health access and therapist services not only in schools but in communities to address the worsening mental health crisis in the education sector.
In 2023, the House Deputy Speaker and Las Pinas Representative filed House Resolution No. 900 asking the Committees on Health and Basic Education of the House of Representatives to look into the status of mental health in the education sector in particular, and the population in general to raise mental health awareness and determine the extent of mental health crisis in the country.
Improving the education sector is a top priority agenda of Villar in her campaign to win a Senate seat in the May 12 elections.
“Matagal na po nating itinutulak ang pagpasa ng mga panukalang batas na magsisiguro ng maayos na estado ng ating mga mag-aaral. Naniniwala po ako na education is a great fiscalizer kung kaya’t kailangang siguruhin ng pamahalaan na maayos ang lagay ng ating mga estudyante para maging maayos ang kanilang kinabukasan,” Villar said.
She also filed House Bill No. 10933, or the proposed Teacher’s Mental Health and Wellness Act, to provide holistic support to all educators in the country.
The measure seeks to ensure that teachers’ mental, emotional, and psychological well-being is given the same importance as their professional development.
House Bill No. 10934 which proposes the inclusion of mental health disorders in the benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, or PhilHealth.
“Kailangan po natin ng whole-of-government at more pro-active na mga solusyon sa problema ng mental health. We need to look at the problem with a new and modern perspective so we can come up with proper solutions to address the mental health crisis in our country,” Villar said.
