National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City
MANILA, Philippines — The number of individuals who have called the hotlines of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) for mental health concerns, including suicide, amid the COVID-19 pandemic has almost doubled in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
Citing data from the NCMH, the DOH said a total of 3,006 individuals were provided mental health services through the hotlines from January to March 15 this year.
Information provided by the DOH to the media showed that the average monthly calls received by the NCMH crisis hotlines so far in 2021 is 1,002. Daily calls received range from 35 to 53.
The average monthly suicide-related calls is at 289.
The data also showed that there were a total of 1,540 calls and 100 suicide-related calls at the NCMH crisis hotlines from January to March 2020.
For the entire 2020, there were a total of 11,017 calls and 1,282 suicide-related calls.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is also focusing on mental health concerns of the public that already saw a year of community quarantine.
“This is one of the things na binabantayan natin and cognizant tayo sa fact na during this pandemic tumaas ang mga consultations natin dito sa hotlines natin for mental health,” she said in an online press briefing.
(This is one of the things we are monitoring and we are cognizant of the fact that in this pandemic, consultations through hotlines for mental health have increased.)
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS)
NCMH’s crisis hotlines can be reached at 0917-899-USAP (8727) and 7-989-USAP (8727).
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