VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte took the lead on Wednesday in launching the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) and the School-Based Feeding Program for 2024. The launch took place in Quezon City, and the School Mental Health Program is an additional flagship program of the Department of Education (DepEd) under its Oplan Kalusugan or OK initiative, which focuses on school health and nutrition programs.
The School Mental Health Program is a significant step towards fulfilling the requirements of the “Mental Health Act of 2016” (Republic Act 11036). This act mandates the DepEd to provide guidelines to schools for the development and implementation of mental health programs that raise awareness about mental health issues.
DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations, Dexter Galban, explained that the School Mental Health Program is a consolidation of all efforts and initiatives at various governance levels within the department. Its aim is to enhance the capacity of schools to promote mental health within the school setting.
Galban also highlighted that the budget for the School Mental Health Program has been increased for Fiscal Year 2024. It has risen from P97.25 million in Fiscal Year 2023 to P210 million. This increased funding will be utilized to hire more health personnel for schools, provide program support funds for field offices, and offer salary increases for registered psychologists.
The School Mental Health Program will implement various initiatives, including the integration of mental health programs into the Matatag K-10 curriculum and the development of homeroom guidance and implementation guidelines. Additionally, it will organize convergence sessions with mental health experts and partners to ensure the effective use of increased funds for mental health policies. The creation of a school mental health policy will also be prioritized to guide the proper utilization of these additional funds.
In conjunction with the School Mental Health Program, the school-based feeding program for School Year 2024-2025 will undergo enhancements. This program aims to address undernutrition in select school children and improve their classroom attendance, enrollment rates, growth and development, participation, and overall nutritional status.
The program consists of two components: hot meals and nutritious food products, as well as a milk-based component. Undernourished Kinder to Grade 6 students will receive the milk-based component. The hot meals regular feeding component will now run for 220 days in the current school year, an increase from the previous 120 days. The cost per learner for the hot meals component will be around P25, while the milk-based component will run for 55 days at a cost of P22 per learner.
During the launch, Duterte emphasized the DepEd’s commitment to the health and education of its learners. She highlighted the importance of schools in promoting both the physical and mental well-being of students. Duterte stated, “We’ve been working hard to make them healthier and safer places to learn.”
The launch of the School Mental Health Program and the School-Based Feeding Program for 2024 demonstrates the DepEd’s dedication to providing comprehensive support to students. By prioritizing mental health and nutrition, the DepEd aims to create an environment that fosters holistic development and ensures the well-being of every learner.
Source: The Manila Times
