NANAWAGAN si Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian nitong Linggo na madagdagan ang mga graduate na papasok sa mental health professions upang makatulong na tugunan ang kakulangan ng mga kwalipikadong propesyonal na magbibigay ng serbisyo sa mga paaralan at komunidad.

Sinabi ni Gatchalian na makatutulong ang plano ng Department of Health na sanayin ang healthcare workers upang makapagbigay ng mental health support, ngunit kailangan aniya ng pangmatagalang hakbang upang makalikha ng mas maraming kwalipikadong mental health professionals.

“The Department of Health’s plan to train healthcare workers to provide mental health support can help address the shortage of mental health professionals. In the long run, however, we need to ensure that we will produce enough graduates who will become mental health professionals and such other professionals who are qualified to deliver school-based mental health programs and services,” pahayag ni Gatchalian.

Sinabi niya na naaayon ito sa Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, o Republic Act No. 12089.

Nanawagan din si Gatchalian na gawing accessible ang mental health services sa mga paaralan at komunidad.

“Hindi ito dapat pribilehiyo lamang, dapat maging accessible ang mental health services sa lahat ng mga paaralan at komunidad,” aniya.