These mental health workers are spread out over equally scarce mental health institutions. The following cater to the entire country, distributed among major cities: • 2 mental hospitals offering tertiary care • 46 outpatient facilities • 4 day-treatment facilities •19 community-based psychiatric inpatient facilities •15 custodial home-care facilities The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) is the only mental hospital in the National Capital Region, which has a population of 13.5 million. NCMH houses 4,200 beds. Alarmingly, the hospital is being transitioned to become a general hospital. Once the transition is complete, NCMH will lose its tertiary care capabilities. This leaves only a small mental hospital in Mariveles, Bataan with tertiary care. In a nutshell, such is the state of mental health care in the Philippines. The road is long yet. But with help from dedicated individuals, private and public institutions, and groups, great strides are being done in terms of educating the public about mental health in the Philippines. With education comes understanding, acceptance, and compassion; these, in turn, create a moral and human approach to mental health care. Quick read: • The Philippines mental health sector is severely inadequate. • There are only two tertiary-care mental hospitals in the Philippines. Only one of them—the National Center for Mental Health—is in the National Capital Region. • The Mental Health Act, signed into law in 2018, ensures rights of mental health patients, their caregivers, and their professional healthcare workers. The Constitution upholds mental health rights Until mid-2018, the Philippines was one of about 58 countries, and the only Southeast Asian nation, without a stand-alone mental health law. Fortunately, on 20 June 2018, the Mental Health Act, or Republic Act No. 11036, was signed into law, taking effect 15 days later. Long overdue, the Mental Health Act protects Filipinos who need psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial health services. The law further gives them the right to access evidence-based mental health services without worry of stigma or discrimination. Sources: Philippine Statistics Authority. (2022). National Quickstat for 2022. Republic of the Philippines; Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/quickstat/national-quickstat/all/* Lopez, J. (2021, July 15). Learning Sessions on the Right to Mental Health—CHR: Dignity of All [Webinar]. Commission on Human Rights. Department of Health. (n.d.). IRR for Mental Health Act Signed. Republic of the Philippines; Department of Health. https://doh.gov.ph/press-release-/mental-health-act-IRR Their caregivers and family members are likewise given the psychosocial support they need as they care for their patients. And to make sure that mental health workers and groups stay up-to-date with the latest psychiatric programs available, the Mental Health Act also gives them the right to voluntarily and continuously participate in professional development programs. 17 18