MANILA (PIA)—House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City lone district representative Camille Villar has filed a bill aimed at providing comprehensive mental health and well-being support for teachers.
Villar’s House Bill No. 10933, or the Teacher’s Mental Health and Wellness Act, seeks to prioritize the mental, emotional, and psychological health of educators alongside their professional development.
The bill highlights the crucial link between teachers’ mental health and their effectiveness in the classroom.
“The mental health of our teachers greatly affects their effectiveness, not only in their personal lives but also, and most importantly, in their functions in molding our students,” she said.
The bill proposes a collaborative framework involving the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to develop programs enhancing educators’ welfare.
These agencies, Villar said, will work in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) to formulate impactful initiatives.
Key components of the proposed programs include regular mental health assessments each semester, counseling sessions, and stress-reduction initiatives. The legislation also calls for the establishment of peer support groups, mentoring programs, and periodic seminars to promote a healthy work-life balance for teachers.
To facilitate these efforts, the bill mandates the appointment of mental health and wellness liaisons in schools and regions. These individuals will assist educators in accessing mental health care and monitor the effectiveness of the implemented programs.
The bill further states that the DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DOH, and PMHA will conduct annual evaluations to assess the success of these initiatives. Funding for the programs will be included in the annual budgets of the respective agencies.
Villar said, “It is important that we ensure the mental wellness of our teachers. We always want to make sure they are in a good state of mind, especially since we know the stress that their job brings.”
The proposed legislation reflects a growing recognition of the need to support educators not only in their professional roles but also in maintaining their overall well-being. (GLG/PIA-NCR)
