I.

Context

On October 10, 2016 the Mental Health Act of 2017 was filed, sponsored and principally authored by
Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros. May 2, 2017 In a historic vote, the Senate passed on third and final
reading a national mental health policy, the first of its kind in the country.

given that since July 9, 1948 the Philippines is a signatory to the World Health Organization.

*The Philippine Mental Health Policy was drafted in 2001 and signed by then Secretary of Health Manuel
Dayrit. It has the following policy statements: (1) leadership, (2) collaboration and partnership, (3)
empowerment and participation, (4) equity, (5) standards for quality mental health services, (6) human resource
development, (7) health service delivery system, (8) mental health care, (9) stability and sustainability, (10)
information system, (11) legislation, and (12) monitoring and evaluation. There is no mental health legislation,
but different stakeholders are currently working toward the passage of a mental health act.

The WHO Quality Rights Toolkit: Setting quality and human rights standards in all facilities

The poor quality of mental health services and extensive violations taking place within services in countries all
over the world has led to the development of the WHO QUALITYRIGHTS PROJECT. This project aims to
unite and empower people to improve the quality of care and promote human rights in mental health facilities
and social care homes.

The objectives of the project are to:

 Improve the quality of care and human rights conditions in inpatient and outpatient mental health and social
facilities.
 Build capacity among people with mental health conditions, their families, and health workers to understand
and promote human rights.
 Strengthen civil society and citizen action to conduct advocacy and influence decision‐making processes.
 Reform national policies and legislation in line with best practice, the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and other international human rights standards.

Objectives of mental health act

to integrate mental health into the country’s educational system, as well as promote mental health programs in
schools and other organizations. The Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority are called on to lead the implementation in schools and
partner with the Department of Health (DOH) to enhance the promotion of such programs.

the government is expected to provide psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services at regional, provincial,
and tertiary hospitals. At the community level, the bill also proposes the inclusion of basic mental health
services, community resilience, psychosocial well-being training, capacity-building programs, support services,
and promotion of mental health awareness.

According to the National Center for Mental Health, the suicide rate for men is estimated
at 2.5 per 100,000 people and 1.7 for women. These numbers, however, do not include
unreported cases.
ISO (International Organization Standardization) certified

Sources:

How does ph fare mental health care

- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100 million people suffer from mental
disorders in the Western Pacific region, including in the Philippines, with depressive disorders accounting for
5.73% of mental disorders in the region.
One positive step toward helping address depression was the launch of Hopeline in 2016.
Of the 3,479 calls received by the 24/7 crisis support hotline, 605 came from people who admitted to being
depressed, while 496 people needed information on depression and suicide. Another 479 called because of
stress or possible depression, while 111 people admitted being suicidal.

Reasons to pass
-8. Only 0.05 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in the country
-cases of depression
-suicide rates
-lack of mental health facilities
-slow enactment of mental health law
-filipinos looking down on psychiatry
-the country and natural disasters
-apathy

international legal standards

- This shift in the understanding of the rights of the mentally disabled was codified in the adoption of the
Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006, the main international human rights
instrument on the rights of persons with disabilities. These international legal instruments are important in
protection of the rights of persons with mental disabilities.

principles
1. Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental Disorders Description Everyone should benefit from
the best possible measures to promote their mental well-being and to prevent mental disorders.
2. Access to Basic Mental Health Care Description Everyone in need should have access to basic mental health
care.
3. Mental Health Assessments in Accordance with Internationally Accepted Principles Description Mental
health assessments should be made in accordance with internationally accepted medical principles and
instruments
4. Provision of the Least Restrictive Type of Mental Health Care Description Persons with mental health
disorders should be provided with health care which is the least restrictive.
5. Self-Determination Description Consent is required before any type of interference with a person can occur.
6. Right to be Assisted in the Exercise of Self-Determination Description In case a patient merely experiences
difficulties in appreciating the implications of a decision, although not unable to decide, he/she shall benefit
from the assistance of a knowledgeable third party of his or her choice.
7. Availability of Review Procedure Description There should be a review procedure available for any decision
made by official (judge) or surrogate (representative, e.g. guardian) decision-makers and by health care
providers.
8. Automatic Periodical Review Mechanism Description In the case of a decision affecting integrity (treatment)
and/or liberty (hospitalization) with a long-lasting impact, there should be an automatic periodical review
mechanism.
9. Qualified Decision-Maker Description Decision-makers acting in official capacity (e.g. judge) or surrogate
(consent-giving) capacity (e.g. relative, friend, guardian) shall be qualified to do so.
10. Respect of the Rule of Law Description Decisions should be made in keeping with the body of law in force
in the jurisdiction involved and not on another basis nor on an arbitrary basis

WHO QUALITYRIGHTS: SERVICE STANDARDS AND QUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE

-The WHO Quality Rights Toolkit: Setting quality and human rights standards in all facilities
The poor quality of mental health services and extensive violations taking place within services in countries all
over the world has led to the development of the WHO QUALITYRIGHTS PROJECT. This project aims to
unite and empower people to improve the quality of care and promote human rights in mental health facilities
and social care homes.

The objectives of the project are to:

 Improve the quality of care and human rights conditions in inpatient and outpatient mental health and social
facilities.
 Build capacity among people with mental health conditions, their families, and health workers to understand
and promote human rights.
 Strengthen civil society and citizen action to conduct advocacy and influence decision‐making processes.
 Reform national policies and legislation in line with best practice, the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and other international human rights standards.

Mental health action plan

- The action plan has the following objectives:
1. to strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health;
2. to provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-
based settings;
3. to implement strategies for promotion and prevention in mental health;
4. to strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.

WHO- aims
The goal of collecting this information is to improve the mental health system and to provide a baseline for
monitoring the change. This will enable the Philippines to develop information-based mental health plans with
clear baseline information and targets. It will also be useful to monitor progress in implementing reform
policies, providing community services, and involving users, families and other stakeholders in mental health
promotion, prevention, care and rehabilitation.