3. Mental health services are to be based on medical and scientific research. These services should also be responsive to the clinical, cultural, gender-based, and age-related needs of each individual. The services are to be provided by mental health professionals in a manner that ensures accountability. (Section 14) 4. All regional, provincial, and tertiary hospitals are tasked to provide psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services. Home care services must also be readily available for those who have special needs because of, among others, long-term hospitalization, lack of treatment, and absence of immediate family. (Section 18) 5. These hospitals must also coordinate with drug rehabilitation centers to facilitate the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals living with substance-induced mental health conditions. Hospital personnel should further refer these individuals to public or private health and social welfare service providers. The purpose of this clause is to make sure that individuals living with mental health conditions have access to preventive programs. (Section 18) 11 Important Points in the Mental Health Act With 10 chapters and 49 sections, Republic Act No. 11036 (RA 11036) or the Mental Health Act covers much ground in establishing rights and extending protections. Below are some of the items to pay special attention to. 1. The objective of the Mental Health Act is to nationalize and systematize the delivery of integrated mental health services to Filipinos. Also, the Law exists to protect and promote the fundamental rights of people using psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial health services. (Section 1) 2. It’s the Philippine government’s duty to affirm for all Filipinos, regardless of economic and social status, their basic right to mental health. This covers the basic rights of people who need mental health services, as well as the rights of mental health professionals. Mental health services have to be timely, affordable, of high quality, and culturally appropriate. (Section 2) 57 6. People living with mental health conditions can expect, by law, to live without stigma or discrimination. RA 11036 ensures that people using mental health services are treated “without discrimination on the basis of physical disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, language, religion or nationality [whether of] ethnic or social origin.” (Section 5) 7. Users of mental health services must have “access to affordable essential health and social services for the purpose of achieving the highest attainable standard of mental health.” The best possible mental health care should be available to all Filipinos needing it. (Section 5) 8. Family members, carers, and legal representatives of people using mental health services have rights, too. They are entitled to psychosocial support (including talk therapy) from government agencies. They can also help in the development and implementation of the treatment plan, provided that the person they’re caring for agrees. (Section 6) 58