DOH logs 612 calls to mental health hotline
The Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday it recorded 612 calls to the crisis hotline of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28, with most callers saying they were experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.
The next common reasons cited were problems in love or relationships, as well as family problems, the DOH said in a summary report.
The number of calls peaked on Dec. 23, a day before Christmas Eve, the DOH said. Categorized by gender, the majority of those who reached out to the mental health crisis hotline were women.
Age-wise, most of the callers were young people between ages of 18 and 30, followed by those ranging between 31 and 43.
The DOH reminded the public that the NCMH hotline will continue to remain open for those needing immediate psychological first aid or free mental health consultation.
The hotline numbers are 1553 (toll-free nationwide landline) or 0919-0571553 and 0917-8998727.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier asked the public to be sensitive and considerate of other people during the holiday season. He said that while many may be celebrating, some could be quietly facing sadness, loneliness or other similar emotions.
Herbosa said many cases of suicide and depression can be observed during the holiday season.
Somatic symptoms
He noted that problems with mental health can “somatize” or manifest into physical symptoms. He said he had come across cases of people brought to emergency rooms, complaining of chest pains when in reality, they were feeling lonely because they were far away from family.
Herbosa said social media can also have an impact on one’s mental health. Some people spending the holidays alone may see others celebrating with their families through online posts, contributing to their feeling of loneliness, he added.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the DOH also reminded parents to keep track of their children’s screen time and online activities this holiday season as it expects a hike in the number of hours spent using gadgets during the school break.
Online risks
It warned that during this period, there is an increased risk of cyberbullying, exposure to online predators and dangerous online content.
“Five out of 10 adolescents have their own cell phones to access the internet, and many of them reach more than 34 hours per week in their usage of digital screens for entertainment,” the DOH said.
It advised parents to activate the parental controls and adjust the privacy settings of their children’s gadgets, including turning off the location access, to ensure online safety.
The DOH also suggested that parents set restrictions on gadget use. It advised a daily screen time of one hour for children aged 2 to 5 and one to two hours for those aged 6 to 12.
At the same time, it urged the public to report cases of abuse, exploitation or harmful online content to the Women and Children Cybercrime Protection Unit of the Philippine National Police by calling 87230401 ext. 7494 (landline) or 0968-8964759.
