5 reasons why the Philippine Mental Health Act should be enacted into law

Senators unanimously approved on third and final reading (19-0) the proposed measure seeking to institutionalise a public mental health system. It now only needs to wait for congressmen to pass a counterpart measure for the bill to finally be signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who stood as the bill’s sponsor during plenary debates, a mental health law will help the Department of Health in addressing the mental health needs of Filipinos, which has seen an alarming rise over the years.

The most recent data showed that one in five Filipinos suffer from some form of mental problem or disorder. These include schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, among others. Of 1.4 million Filipinos with disabilities recorded in 2010, 14 percent suffered from mental disorders, according to the World Health Organization.

With a national mental health policy in place, government will be empowered to put in place a system that will not only enhance mental health services around the country but help provide treatment for those suffering with mental conditions, including provide substantial allocation for mental health programmes.

Why is it imperative to enact the Philippine Mental Health Act into law? Read more.

PLAE and the Department of Health

Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Health and Philippine League Against Epilepsy

February 2012
DOH USEC: Ted Herbosa
PLAE President: Hazel Paragua

PLAE and ILAE – Commission on Asian and Oceanian Affairs: Asian Epilepsy Academy

PLAE Hosts the 9th Asian and Oceanian Epilepsy Congress at the SMX Convention Center, Manila on March 22-25, 2012

International Awards and Recognition Given to PLAE and EAAI Members

ILAE Commission on Asian and Oceanian Affairs conferred the Asian and Oceanian Outstanding Achievement Epilepsy Award to the Second PLAE President Dr. Leonor Cabral-Lim in 2012.