NCMH: Nearly 18K suicide-related calls received since 2019

The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) said Wednesday it has received a total of 17,884 suicide-related calls since its crisis hotline was launched in 2019, and the bulk of it was made at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Broken down, NCMH Crisis Hotline and Center for Wellness program director Dr. Bernard Argamosa showed data that the center received 325 suicide-related calls in 2019; 1,382 in 2020; 7,618 in 2021; 6,853 in 2022; and 1,706 as of March 2023.

He said that the 17,884 people who called with concerns regarding thoughts of suicide and suicidal behaviors amounted to 31% of the 57,961 callers NCMH has served in the past four years.

“Grabe ang increase, especially during the pandemic. Nakatulong nang malaki ang crisis hotline kasi nung mga panahong nagsara ang mundo, kami po hindi,” Argamosa said at the Kapihan forum hosted by the Department of Health (DOH).

(The increase was huge especially during the pandemic. The crisis hotline helped a lot because when the world closed down, we didn't.)

Most of the calls came from the 18-31 age bracket, and were made by females, he noted.

Majority or 47% of the calls also came from the National Capital Region (NCR) alone.

Top reasons for calling, he said, were anxiety or depressive symptoms; love or relationship problems; family problems; asking for referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist; and needing someone to talk to.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that deaths due to "intentional self-harm" was up to 3,529 in 2020 — a 25.7% increase compared to the 2,808 recorded in 2019.

This made suicide the 27th leading cause of death in 2020. 

NCMH's Luzon-wide landline (toll-free) is 1553. Globe and TM subscribers may call 0917 899 8727 or 0966 351 4518, while Smart, SUN, and TNT subscribers may reach out to 0908 639 2672. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

If you need or know someone who needs to talk to someone, Hopeline, the 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, may be reached at (02) 804-4673; 0917-5584673