Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for Local Health Leaders Session 3: Mental Health Law and Related Policies Session Objectives - Discuss the salient features of the mental health law - Identify complementary laws and policies - Review existing local mental health policies and programs Republic Act 11036 This law recognizes that mental health is a basic right for Filipinos and people’s fundamental rights for mental health services. The law aims to strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health by formulating, developing, and implementing national policies, strategies, programs, and regulations relating to mental health. The Act protects the mentally ill’s rights, their respective families, and mental health professionals. It recognizes the need to cascade mental health services from the regional hospitals to the community down to its most basic unit – the barangay. The law promotes the development and implementation of training and capacity-building programs on community resilience and psychosocial wellbeing (during and after natural disasters and other calamities) such as general dissemination and promotion of mental health awareness. It is expected that mental health will be integrated into the educational system, including ageappropriate content. There should be an integration of a subject on rightsbased public mental health into the curriculum at all academic levels. The law strengthened the mandatory inclusion of topics like psychology, psychiatry, and neurology in all medical courses and other allied health courses, including postgraduate studies in health. Salient Features - Aims to break the stigma on mental illness - Affirms the basic right of all Filipinos to mental health 15