Mental health support programs for single parents pushed
A lawmaker is seeking specific government programs and services to help solo parents cope mentally and emotionally as they face the challenges of raising their children by themselves.
In filing House Bill No. 11388, or the proposed Solo Parents Mental Health and Wellness Act, Calamba City Rep. Charisse Anne Hernandez noted the “limited emphasis” on mental health and emotional support for single parents.
She pointed out that while there were certain protections and advantages available to them under Republic Act No. 8972, or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, “there may be situations in which particular benefits or groups of single parents are not specifically mentioned or covered in full.”
Not adequately available
According to Hernandez, the provisions for parental guidance and counseling in RA 8972 “may not always be adequately available or widely promoted.”
The lawmaker said her bill aims to specifically “create mental health programs and services for solo parents to help them cope with the emotional and psychological challenges of raising their children alone.”
Highly stressful
Solo parenting, she added, can be “highly stressful, often leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety and burnout.”
“It is crucial to incorporate mental health support into the current welfare programs for solo parents,” Hernandez said.
HB 11388 tasks the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine Mental Health Association to establish and promote programs and services for the health and welfare of single parents.
These include an annual mental health assessment of single parents; regular counseling sessions focusing on stress management, emotional stability and coping mechanisms; stress-reduction programs; access to peer support groups and mentoring programs; and periodic seminars to raise awareness and improve understanding of mental health issues among solo parents.
Funding for the programs and services will be included in the annual budget of the DSWD, which will also be tapped to craft the implementing guidelines.
