PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AMONG STUDENTS: BASIS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM CHARLENE S. DOB Western Colleges Inc.- Naic Campus docharlene01@gmail.com MAEDELYN B. ROBLES Philippine Normal University-Manila maebrobles@gmail.com JANINE ALYANNA A. CLAVERIA Trece Martires City College janinealyanna.alumno@gmail.com ABSTRACT Mental health problem among students may lead to poor academic performance and worst, loss of lives. Therefore, having concrete schoolbased mental health programs are vital in promoting mental health to achieve good academic performance of students. In order to create a school-based mental health program in Luis Y. Ferrer Jr. West National High School, the prevalence and status of mental health problems among the learners were explored in this study using quantitative research method. To collect data, the Suicide Potential Inventory for Filipinos (SPIF) was used. Gathered data from 61 participating grade 10 students were interpreted by in-house psychologists of Intellimeter International Resources Inc. The results reveal that mental health problem particularly the suicide ideation among students is prevalent at moderate level. Meaning, students may experience some psychological disturbances and at the same time keep themselves calm and work to resolve their problems. According to the results, it can be concluded that despite the absence of school-based mental health program, students are able to cope with some psychological disturbances. But this does not give the assurance that suicidal ideation among students will remain at moderate level and will not affect their academic performance. Students must still be guided on how to be mentally healthy. In order to do so, a school-based mental health program, Program MAHAL KA (Mental Advocacy in Health towards Active Learners who are Kind-hearted and Affectionate) was created. The results of this study also call for the urgent need to strengthen the values integration in teaching across learning areas. Students who are strongly imbued with values are likely to be mentally healthy, thus experience meaningful teaching and learning and eventually achieve good academic performance. Keywords: academic performance, mental health, suicidal ideation
