Section 8Sec./Art. 8

Functions of the Center. - The Center in every public basic education school shall deliver school-based mental health services that are required in the fulfillment of the following functions:

(a) Develop a localized school-based mental health program as provided under Section 4 of this Act to strengthen the implementation of the existing mental health program of the DepEd based on the framework provided by the Office to promote and ensure the mental health and well-being of all learners, as well as provide mental health awareness and literacy programs and appropriate mental health-related referrals to teaching and non-teaching personnel. This shall be submitted to the Office at the SDO for review and approval particularly if there is no School Counselor in the Center;

(b) Render counseling when the Center has a School Counselor or facilitate referral to the Schools Division Counselor for counseling when it only has School Counselor Associates;

(c) Maintain a comprehensive record of counseling sessions through case notes that shall include learners' information, interventions conducted, referrals, and other recommendations that the Center deems relevant and essential to the improvement of the mental health and well-being of the learners;

(d) Conduct proper monitoring of all learners to identify their mental health needs and concerns and to determine appropriate and timely response and intervention when necessary;

(e) Equip the learners with skills and information for prevention, identification, and proper response and referral for their own and others' mental health needs, especially learners identified as children in conflict with the law, learners at risk of dropping out, learner-victims of violence against women and their children, learners who are victims of natural calamities, armed conflicts, and other emergencies, learners with disabilities, and learner-victims of other related forms of child abuse and criminal acts, young mothers and fathers, and learners who have recently experiences traumatic experiences in their schools or communities;

(f) Provide training and support to teachers and other personnel in improving mental health awareness and preparedness to enable them to identify early warning signs of mental health problems and the need for appropriate intervention;

(g) Facilitate the efficient referral to appropriate agencies, institutions, organizations, or professionals for necessary intervention and aftercare support in addressing mental health concerns and needs of learners. The Center shall also monitor all learners who have gone through third-party intervention to ensure their continuous improvement;

(h) Engage and provide support to parents, parent-substitutes, and other concerned stakeholders in improving the school behavior and ensuring the academic success of learners;

(i) Establish linkages with the community through the promotion of mental health programs and activities geared towards the holistic well-being of learners;

(j) Prepare and submit reports periodically to the Office at the SDO for review; and

(k) Perform such other functions and activities that may be assigned to it periodically by the DepEd within the purview of guidance and counseling.