Iloilo City hosts global mental health reform forum

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City has become a focal point of the global mental health movement this week as advocates confront persistent gaps in care and push for policy and systems change that leave no voice behind.

Since the passage of Republic Act No. 11036, or the Mental Health Act, in 2018, governance of mental health policies in the Philippines has progressed, although challenges remain in workforce capacity and access to services.

Michael Angelo Pereira, secretary general of MentalHealthPH, said it is “high time” for the government to conduct a thorough evaluation of the implementation of the Mental Health Act.

“One major gap is the workforce,” Pereira said, noting that the number of health care professionals remains limited compared with the growing number of mental health service users.

“Another is service accessibility, since many services are still not accessible, which continues to be a dilemma,” he added.

Despite these challenges, Pereira acknowledged improvements in recent years, including efforts to reduce stigma and the expansion of mental health initiatives across multiple sectors.

“There is still a pervasive stigma around mental health but comparatively from the previous years, we have seen changes and growth since the law’s passing,” he said.

He said nearly a decade of initiatives from grassroots groups, civil society, and local and national government units has helped sustain mental health advocacy nationwide.

Pereira cited progress in integrating mental health services into primary health care and the growth of community-based and preventive approaches involving multiple stakeholders.

“There are still gaps in terms of stigma and nuances but we cannot discount that there is still progress,” he added.

Looking ahead, Pereira said these collective efforts indicate a positive trajectory for mental health governance in the country.

“We see a trajectory for a more responsive, more inclusive, and system-wide mental health governance—at least in this administration and I hope it will be pushed and prioritized in the next administration,” he said.

From Feb. 2–4, Iloilo City is hosting the fourth Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum, convened by the Global Mental Health Action Network, bringing together more than 500 advocates, people with lived experience, policymakers, researchers, grassroots leaders, United Nations agencies, and donors from over 70 countries.

The forum is co-hosted by MentalHealthPH and the network’s secretariat host, United for Global Mental Health, marking the first time the global gathering has been held in Asia.

Organizers said the event is the largest civil society–led mental health advocacy forum of its kind worldwide.

Held under the theme “Reimagining Global Mental Health: No Voice Left Behind,” the forum aims to translate global political commitments on mental health into concrete national action.

Dr. Antonis Kousoulis, director of partnerships and GMHAN secretariat lead, said the Philippines’ experience offers valuable lessons for the global mental health community.

“It also about maximizing the learning both reginally and globally,” he said.

Kousoulis said that while no country has a perfect mental health system, the forum seeks to encourage governments to adopt community-based care models, reduce stigma, and improve prevention and access to services.

He said these efforts are especially critical for underserved groups, including youth and LGBTQIA+ communities.

“It’s also about networking,” Kousoulis said.

“As a global mental health community, it’s important that we work well together and understand each other’s contexts,” he added.