CHR to conduct forum to promote mental health rights

By Keren Anne Bernadas

To help promote the Philippine Mental Health Act, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) held an online forum on Wednesday, June 29.

Key CHR officials spoke at the forum. The reactors included government communicators in Bicol region.

The forum discussed the rights and welfare of persons with mental health needs under RA 11036.

Speakers tackled the discrimination against people suffering from mental health issues and the stigma of emotional and psychological disorders.

Media participants were briefed on the latest data and situational assessment of the mental health care system on a national and regional scale.

Being the highest human rights institution in the country, the CHR seeks to raise the level of discourse on the government’s effort to recognize, assess, treat and provide rights for the community affected by mental health disorders through RA 11036.

This law not only provide mental health services down to the barangays but also promotes mental health education in schools and workplaces

The CHR cited data from the Global Health Estimates of the World Health Organization, which showed that around 3.3 million Filipinos suffered from mental disorder in 2017.

This was followed by anxiety with 3.1 million, then schizophrenia afflicting around 200,000 people. (PIA5)