As many as 17 million Filipinos — one-sixth of the 110 million Philippine population — are suffering from depression, a lawmaker stated quoting data provided by the Department of Health (DOH).
Mental health wellness advocate, Rep. Alfred Delos Santos of party-list Ang Probinsiyano stated that mental health is a serious issue citing DOH figures that point out that suicide rates had increased among people including youngsters.
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Delos Santos also lauded the House committee on labor and employment, headed by Rep. Eric Pineda of party-list 1Pacman, for initiating a hearing on the issue last week. He noted that the positive reaction of the committee towards the bill that urges that mental illness should not be taken lightly as there are no manifestations of this problem.
Appropriate measures for dealing with mental illness include: Five extra days of leave for current mandatory vacation and sick leaves for employees in the private sector, besides also employers carrying out programs for promoting workers’ mental health.
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Santos had authored House Bill 6253 — or the Mental Wellness Leave Act — granting five more days of leave for private employees.
HB 6253 plans to expand the existing Mental Health Law (Republic Act 11036) enacted in July 2018 with clarity on rights and inclusion of a prevention program addressing the rising depressive disorders and suicide rates.
Santos emphasized his bill being supported by the Employees Compensation Commission through its executive director Stella Zipangan-Banawis, who said that the mental wellness measure is “essential and compensable.” (AW)
