School Counselors Needed Amid Rising Depression, Suicides

As incidents of depression and suicide among young students keep rising, the government should designate mental health counselors in all public schools, including state universities and colleges across the country, according to Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte.

- By DELON PORCALLA

Villafuerte underscored the need for guidance counselors, psychologists or any other licensed mental health professional in learning institutions from grade school all the way up to the tertiary level.

"With the psychological well-being of our adolescents emerging as a critical public health issue — apparently aggravated by academic pressures, cyberbullying and other risks spawned by digital technologies — licensed professionals should be assigned to public schools and SUC campuses," he said.

The main objective of this, the lawmaker said, is to "ensure that our students have available and ready access in school to professional counseling, early intervention and emotional support from these professionals or experts."