DOH: NCMH receiving 53 suicide-related calls a day amid COVID-19 pandemic

The National Center of Mental Health (NCMH) has been receiving an average of 53 suicide-related calls as of August 15 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health reported Wednesday.

Based on the records disclosed by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the peak of suicide-related calls to NCMH crisis hotlines happened in July 2020 with 115 calls.

“Not all who called were new, most were returning callers who were exacerbated by the pandemic,” the DOH said.

Meanwhile, the top reason for calling the NCMH crisis hotlines during the month of August was anxiety-related concerns which reached 109 calls.

In total, the NCMH crisis hotline received a high volume of calls during the months of April, May, June, and July but the peak was last June with 1,115 calls.

As of  August 15, 9,494 Filipinos have been provided with mental health service.

Individuals who are in need of mental health support and assistance can call the NCMH crisis numbers 0917-8998727 and 989-8727.

Vergeire earlier cautioned the public against stigmatizing individuals struggling with mental health issues, saying that they should be provided support and time for conversation.

“Hindi po porke't tumawag po kayo sa hotline ay luko luko kayo o sira ang ulo. It is okay not to be okay.  Mayroon po kayong maaaring kausapin for counselling o kahit makipagkwentuhan. Huwag po kayo magkaroon ng agam-agam kasi meron po kayong puwedeng makausap,” Vergeire said.

Last weekend, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra raised alarm over rising number of suicide incidents in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to loss of jobs and livelihood, among others.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll released last August 16 revealed that adult joblessness in the Philippines already increased to a record-high of 45.5% in July, with half of the unemployed saying they lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic which prompted governments to restrict mobility thru social distancing and ban mass gathering to avoid COVID-19 transmission.—AOL, GMA News