1.++Mental+Health+and+the+Government

What role does the government play in the management of mental health? How is an individual’s mental health affected by the programs of the government? In theory, what can governments do in resolving the problem of mental health? **
 * __Guidelines for contributions:__ **
 * What is mental health in general?

__** Mindset: **__
 * In doing the research, think about the potentials of the government to improve or alleviate the state of mental health of its citizens. The result of research here should help us form our opinion on the potentials of House Bill 6679 as the government’s primary arm in managing the country’s mental health. **

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The 1987 Philippine Constitution states on Article XIII, Section 11 that the "State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers." This is our country's responsibility to it's constituent. As a member of this nation, we have the right to have access to goods, health and other social services that are affordable or even free.======


 * Research by Janice Cabusas:**

According to the World Health Organization, Mental Health is "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease". It is related to the promotion of well-being, the prevention of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders.”

The National Mental Health Program Mental of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control under DOH states that mental health is an integral component of total health. Issues on mental health includes not only the traditional mental disorders but as important are the concerns of target populations vulnerable to psychosocial risks brought about by extreme life experiences (e.g. disasters, near death experiences, heinous and violent crimes, internal displacement brought about by religious and civil unrest) as well as the psychosocial concerns of daily living (e.g. maintaining a sense of well being in these difficult times).

Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (WHO, 2007).
 * Liezl:**

Reference

World Health Organization. (2007) http://www.who.int/features/qa/62/en/index.html


 * Research by Adrian Jeric G. Peña :**

Querubin and Rodriguez (2002) noted on their research entitled “Beyond the physical: the state of a nation's mental health: the Philippine report” that mental health is one the least concerns for government agencies, especially in legislation. Although there are numerous health programs and or laws and presidential decrees were enacted regarding health care in the Philippines, there are few, if not none at all are about mental health. In fact, as of the moment, there is no updated and comprehensive definition of insanity in our laws and our constitution despite the fact that mental illness is the third most common form of disability in the Philippines, according to a National Statistics Office survey conducted in 2001. Although the state is upholding health as one of the basic human rights, it fails to ensure the efficient delivery of affordable and reliable health services—not only services with regards to mental health. With due respect to the government, it has attempted to rectify the problem in the health care delivery in the country through different executive orders. Some of the notable and significant events in our country’s public health care during the past 25 years are: (i) adoption of the Primary Health Care in 1979; (ii) Executive Order 851 in 1983 integrating the public health and hospital services; (iii) Executive Order 119 in 1987 reorganizing the Department of Health; (iv) Republic Act 7160 delegation of health services to local government units in 1992; and, (v) Executive Order 102 streamlining the organization and functions of the Department of Health (DOH, 1991). Furthermore, Zulueta and Liwag (2001) listed the general legislation and regulations, which are somewhat relevant to mental health as seen on Table 1. However, one would easily notice that most of the laws—if not all—listed are not directly mentioning mental health and are only related to the subject. A law specifically about mental health and or government programs regarding mental health is yet to be passed and enacted. This is a depressing fact for the reason that the mental well being of a person is vital for his/her existence in the society and should be given proper attention and care. The government is clearly failing on their responsibility to its citizens—that is to provide goods, health and other social services that are affordable or even free to its citizens. ** Table 1 ** General Legislation / Regulations Pertinent to Mental Health Legislation / Regulation || Year || || · Family Code || 1988 || ·  Child and Youth Welfare Code || 1974 || ·  Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 (RA 8552) || 1998 ||   || ·  Labor Code of the Philippines, as ameneded || 1974 || ·  Social Security Act of 1997 || 1997 || ·  Government Service Insurance Act of 1997 || 1997 || ·  National Health Insurance Act of 1997 || 1997 || ·  Senior Citizens Act || 1992 || ·  Retirement Law  || 1993 ||   || ·  Children’s Television Act of 1997 || 1997 || ·  Children not attending school; children in care || 1974 || ·  Child and Youth Welfare Code || 1974 ||   || ·  Special protection of children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination (RA 7610) || 1992 ||   || ·  Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended || 1974 || ·  Civil Service Law || - || ·  Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994 || 1994 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 || 2000 ||   || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  1987 Philippine Constitution || 1987 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended || 1974 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (RA 7610), as amended (RA 7658) || 1993 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Women in Developing and National Building Act || 1992 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Anti-Sexual Harrassment Act || 1995 ||   || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended || 1974 || ·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">  Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (RA 8425) || 1997 || Although there are professionals and government-owned facilities dealing with mental health care across the country, their number is inadequate and are only concentrated in the National Capital Region; hence, not every Filipino has an access to affordable and reliable mental health services (Querubin and Rodriguez, 2002). The National Center for Mental Health or NCMH is the only government hospital that directly deals with mental illness and is located in the National Capital Region. The National Center for Mental Health houses a total of 35 pavilions / cottages and 52 wards in their 46.7 hectare compound. The center is complete with facilities including its very own infirmary, medical library, sports center, chapel, conference rooms, recreational and sports facilities. However, other government hospitals and medical centers have psychiatry departments also that provides patients with mental health services that are unevenly distributed in the different regions of the country, still with concentration in NCR (NCMH, n.d.). The Philippine Psychiatric Association, established in 1972, currently has 355 registered members throughout the country. However, 65% of its members or 221 registered members are practicing in the National Capital Region, while the rest are unevenly distributed among the other regions in the country. The government through the Department of Health tried to correct the uneven distribution of health care professionals through programs like Doctors to the Barrio and the NARS (Nurse Assigned in Rural Service) program. Aside from the psychiatrist, most hospitals and medical centers have a nursing staff who is specializing in psychiatric nursing, expertise that were acquired through training programs incorporated in the National Mental Health Program (PPA, n.d.). Trainings related to mental health are regularly conducted by the National Center for Mental Health and the UP-PGH Department of Psychiatry alongside with non-governmental organizations, civic and specialty organizations including the Philippine Mental Health Association, the University of the Philippines Psychiatrists’ Foundation, Inc., the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists of the Philippines, Inc., and the Philippine Psychiatric Association (Querubin & Rodriguez, 2002). When looking at the yearly budget allotted to the Department of Health from the years 1991 to 2009 (Figure 1), we can see that the budget allocation for the DOH has been fluctuating—with the lowest budget given in 1993 amounting only to Php 6.9 billion while the highest budget given to the department was in 2009 amounting to Php 23.67 billion (Department of Budget Management, 2008). Although the budget for the Health department has drastically increased throughout the years, the programs and subsidized services were poorly targeted—giving only emphasis in the National Capital Region where large government hospitals are situated and are receiving the largest share of the budget. ** Figure 1 ** DOH Budget from the years 1991 to 2009 in billion pesos DOH, Department of Health, (1991). //National Objectives for Health: Philippines// Manila: DOH. National Center for Mental Health. (n.d.). National Center for Mental Health (Facilities). //Department of Health//. Retrieved (2009, September 07) from http://www.doh.gov.ph/ncmh/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=15&Itemid=120 Philippine Psychiatric Association, (1991). Historical Development of the Mental Health Services. //Philippine Journal of Psychiatry//, 2(23), 21. // Philippine Psychiatric Association //. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2009, from http://www.ppa.ph/ Querubin, M., & Rodriguez, S. (2002). //Beyond the physical : the state of a nation's mental health : the Philippine report//. Melbourne: CIMH. Zulueta, F., & Liwag, D. (2001). //Social problems and issues in the Philippines//. Manila: National Bookstore.
 * Adoption ** ||
 * Adoption ** ||
 * Welfare legislation (e.g., benefits and payments for the **
 * old, disabled, and the ill) ** ||
 * old, disabled, and the ill) ** ||
 * Compulsory Education (School leaving age, availability, **
 * and access) ** ||
 * and access) ** ||
 * Alcohol Availability, Alocohol/Tobacco advertisements ** ||
 * Alcohol Availability, Alocohol/Tobacco advertisements ** ||
 * Employment Law ** ||
 * Employment Law ** ||
 * Anti-discrimination on: race, creed, disability, age, **
 * gender and sexuality ** ||
 * gender and sexuality ** ||
 * Reduction of Income Inequalities ** ||
 * Reduction of Income Inequalities ** ||
 * Reference: **