Mental health and well-being office sa bawat school division

ni PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | June 29, 2026

Dear Chief Acosta,

Bilang isang estudyante at tagapagtaguyod ng kalusugang pangkaisipan, nais ko sanang malaman kung may batas ba na naipatupad upang makatulong na bigyang solusyon o atensyon ang lumalawig na mga alalahanin sa kalusugang pangkaisipan ng mga estudyante? — Ejah

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Dear Ejah,

Ang sagot sa iyong katanungan ay maaaring matagpuan sa Seksyon 5 ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 12080 o mas kilala sa tawag na “Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act,” kung saan nakasaad na:

“Section 5. Establishment of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in Every Schools Division Office. - There is hereby established, under the administration and supervision of the DepEd, a Mental Health and Well-Being Office, hereinafter referred to as the Office, in every SDO, which is primarily tasked to address the mental health and well-being of all learners and personnel of the DepEd under the jurisdiction of the SDO. It shall be headed by a Schools Division Counselor with Salary Grade 24 whose qualification must include being a Registered Guidance Counselor or a Registered Psychologist.”

Ayon sa nasabing probisyon na batas, itinataguyod ang pagkakaroon ng isang Mental Health and Well-Being Office sa kada School Division Office (SDO) na siyang sasailalim sa administrasyon at pangangasiwa ng Department of Education (DepEd). Ang pangunahing tungkulin ng Mental Health and Well-Being Office ay tugunan ang kalusugang pangkaisipan at kagalingan ng lahat ng mga mag-aaral at tauhan ng DepEd sa ilalim ng hurisdiksyon ng nasabing SDO. Ang Mental Health and Well-Being Office ay pamumunuan ng isang schools division counselor na may kwalipikasyon na sasakop sa pagiging isang registered guidance counselor o registered psychologist.

Nakasaad din sa Seksyon 6 ng R.A. No. 12080, ang gagampanang tungkulin ng Mental Health and Well-Being Office. Ang ilan dito ay ang mga sumusunod:

“Section 6. Functions of the Mental Health and Well-Being Office. - The Office shall have the functions:

(a) Provide a general framework for the mental health and well-being programs of the schools under its jurisdiction. This framework shall encompass strategies and guidelines to promote the psychological welfare of learners within the educational system;

(b) Review, revise, and approve the mental health and well-being program submitted by schools, particularly if the head of the Care Center is not a School Counselor, to ensure that the programs are aligned with established standards and best practices in the field of mental health;

(c) Conduct periodic visits to the schools under its jurisdiction to assess the implementation of mental health and well-being programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and determine the overall mental health status of the learners;

(i) Perform other activities within the purview of guidance and counseling deemed necessary to enhance the mental health and well-being of learners.”

Ang nasabing batas ay ipinatupad sa kadahilanang kinikilala ng ating gobyerno ang mahalagang papel ng mga bata at kabataan sa pagbuo ng bansa, at dapat pagyamanin at protektahan ang kanilang kabuuang kapakanan. Ito ay mapapagtibay sa pagkakaroon ng mga patakaran na magtataguyod sa kalusugang pangkaisipan at kagalingan sa mga institusyong pang-edukasyon.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.