DOH mental health hotline logs 1k calls during holidays
The government is allotting P3 billion this year for school-based initiatives on mental health, addressing a concern underscored by the Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday as it reported receiving nearly 1,000 calls on its mental health hotline during the holidays.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the 2026 budget bill, which President Marcos is expected to sign into law next week, includes a P2.9-billion allocation for the school-based mental health program and the formation of the Learner Wellness Division.
This as the DOH reported that “a total of 961 callers reached out to the DOH Mental Health Hotline at the National Center for Mental Health from Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 2, 2026.”
“The number of callers increased on Dec. 30, 2025, with relationship or love life problems, anxiety, and depressive symptoms being the primary reasons for calling,” the agency said in a Facebook post.
Hotline saves lives
Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said every call that the NCMH hotline receives is considered a life saved.
“There is no cut-off in mental health to say alarming or not; what matters is that DOH is ready to assist anyone who would like to call,” Domingo told the Inquirer in a Viber message when asked whether the figures were considered high.
But he said it was the first for the department track the number of calls to the hotline.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier urged the public to exercise sensitivity and consideration during the holidays, noting that not everyone celebrates the season in the same way.
He added that the DOH has observed an increase in suicide and depression cases during the season.
Gatchalian, who authored Republic Act No. 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, said the allocation of almost P3 billion would be “consistent” with the law’s implementation.
RA 12080 calls for the development of mental health programs in schools, as well as creation of a Learner Wellness Division under the Department of Education.
High stress levels
The division is tasked with setting annual targets for the implementation of the law, including the setup mental health offices and care centers in schools.
It also requires filling up all “plantilla” positions in the proposed division.
“The program shall manage the mental health concerns of all learners, including the prevention of suicides in schools,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
In its 2025 Mind Health Report, insurance company AXA said Filipinos aged 18 to 34 experience significantly higher levels of stress and mental health problems than their global peers, mostly triggered by financial instability and job insecurity. It also said that Filipinos are among the most proactive in seeking help.
Meanwhile, a World Health Organization report released on Sept. 1 said that one in seven people aged 10 to 19 worldwide experiences a mental disorder.
It noted that depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those age 15 to 29.
Those in need of mental health support may call the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1553 or contact 0919-0571553 and 0917-8998727.
