In a recent meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Secretary Leonor Briones reported that the DepEd has recorded one confirmed case of student suicide in the country due to the crisis. The Education Chief expressed sadness over the incident and her department is keenly focusing on the effects of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the mental health of students and teachers.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has improved its strides to enforce a stronger psychosocial support program in accordance with the order of the President. It will add mental health as part of the curriculum in schools. This will be under the health literacy program of the department.
“Binabago natin ang ating health education curriculum kaya pinapasok natin ‘yung health literacy. (We are changing our health education curriculum that is why we added health literacy.”
The Education Chief also shared about the support system the agency has put in place for its major stakeholders.
“Ngayon nag-initiate kami, may program kami na Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services. Talagang right from the beginning, mayroon na kaming programang ganito, Mr. President, na kailangan i-increase ang physical, ang mental health resilience ng ating mga learners, teachers, parents and citizen. Lahat natatakot, lahat anxious, at saka lumalabas ‘yung mga kung minsan hindi magagandang mga behavior. (We are now intiating, we have this program, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services. Right from the beginning, we already have this program, Mr. President, there is a need to increase the physical, mental health resilience of our learners, teachers, parents and citizens. Everyone is scared, anxious and this is sometimes manifested in not so good behavior).”
With his mother as a mental health advocate in the past, President Duterte expressed support for the DepEd’s programs and shared that, mental health is closer to my heart because my mother spent her lifetime unto it.”
Reports from Mela Lesmoras and Kenneth Paciente
