‘Learners also need mental health care this pandemic’

The municipal council of La Trinidad, Benguet has requested all school officials to ensure the conduct of regular mental health breaks for learners, as the current setup of education creates difficulties for many pupils and students.
The council was bothered on reports of deaths by suicide involving students in the country but few learners seek mental health consultations as reported by guidance counselors and mental health practitioners.
“While the cases of death by suicide are not yet so rampant, we have to recognize that one life taken away by mental health problem is already one life too many and must not be regarded simply as isolated cases,” the resolution read.
The council also urged the Municipal Inter-agency Task Force to ease up restrictions in favor of mental health wellness of the community.
“Our mobility restrictions also limit opportunities for mental health breaks and that essential purpose under existing IATF guidelines do not include mental health wellness among them,” the council resolution reads.
The MIATF earlier barred persons 15 years old and below and 65 years old and above, those having immunodeficiency, co-morbidity or other health risks, and pregnant women from going out of their homes any time as part of the localized general community quarantine guidelines.
The resolution, which was given to all schools and the MIATF, came after the case of death by suicide involving a 13-year-old student in the municipality.
Pressure in answering self-learning modules is one of the contributory factors to the learner’s death, according to the police report.
Department of Education-Cordillera Information Officer Georaloy Palao-ay said they are working on ramping up their mental health interventions for the learners, parents, teachers.
Earlier, the House committee on basic education and culture backed DepEd to continue applying academic ease by approving House Bill 796, which seeks to protect the mental health of K to 12 learners through scholastic leniency.
The House committee also amended House Resolution 1383, which urges DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education to adopt a pass or drop grading system.
Through an amendment, the DepEd will not adopt the pass or drop grading system for the school year. Instead, the learners who are at risk of failing will be given remedial classes. – Ofelia C. Empian