Presentation Information
[SY-98]Strengthening mental health support for young people in the Philippines
Maria Lourdes Rosanna E. De Guzman2, Hiromi Yamauchi1, Rose Anelyn Visaya-Ceniza3 (1.Hiroshima University(Japan), 2.University of the Philippines(Philippines), 3.Davao Oriental State University(Philippines))
Keywords:
Young people,School mental health,Philippines
The formative years of children and young people are unique and a pivotal phase in their development. Physical, emotional, and social changes, including exposure to poverty, sexual abuse, harassment, or violence, can make children and young people vulnerable to mental health problems. Global estimates indicate that mental health conditions affect one in seven (14%) of 10-19-year-olds, yet they often go unrecognized and untreated. In the Philippines, the latest national survey on mental health and well-being revealed alarming statistics: 3 out of 10 adolescents in the age group 12–19 have a mental health problem, with suicide being the third-leading cause of death among youth aged 15–19 years.
The enactment of two significant laws, the Mental Health Act of 2018 and the Universal Health Care of 2019, marked a significant advancement in establishing a comprehensive mental health framework to improve access to mental health services at all levels of care. Since young people under the age of 24 make up almost 40% of the population, the law requires the education sector to integrate mental health through age-appropriate content into curricula at all levels; develop policies and programs to raise awareness about mental health; identify and support young people at risk and establish referral mechanisms; and have mental health professionals included as part of the education workforce. The symposium addresses these challenges of providing mental health and psychosocial support services: emphasizing the importance of protecting children and adolescents from stigma and discrimination, promoting socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being through school mental health initiatives, ensuring access to mental health care for survivors of sexual abuse, and providing guidance and support for addressing harassment in schools, all of which are crucial for their health and well-being.
The enactment of two significant laws, the Mental Health Act of 2018 and the Universal Health Care of 2019, marked a significant advancement in establishing a comprehensive mental health framework to improve access to mental health services at all levels of care. Since young people under the age of 24 make up almost 40% of the population, the law requires the education sector to integrate mental health through age-appropriate content into curricula at all levels; develop policies and programs to raise awareness about mental health; identify and support young people at risk and establish referral mechanisms; and have mental health professionals included as part of the education workforce. The symposium addresses these challenges of providing mental health and psychosocial support services: emphasizing the importance of protecting children and adolescents from stigma and discrimination, promoting socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being through school mental health initiatives, ensuring access to mental health care for survivors of sexual abuse, and providing guidance and support for addressing harassment in schools, all of which are crucial for their health and well-being.