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At least 3.6 million Filipinos battling mental health issues amid pandemic: DOH

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/05/07/20210320-covid-divisoria-crowd-gc-08.jpg"/><figcaption>People visit stalls in Divisoria in Manila on March 20, 2021. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - At least 3.6 million Filipinos are battling mental health issues as the Philippines continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.</p><p>About 1.14 million Filipinos have depression, 847,000 are battling alcohol-use disorders, while 520,000 others were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said Frances Prescilla Cuevas, chief health program officer of the DOH&#x27;s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DOH says at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffering from mental health issues.<br/><br/>DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau chief Frances Prescilla Cuevas: &quot;This is an understatement. This is just a figure na underreported because it only tackles a few of the conditions.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/c6TPi0yJnV">pic.twitter.com/c6TPi0yJnV</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1394929978026823681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;This is an understatement. This is a figure na underreported because it only tackles a few of the conditions,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang ibig lang sabihin niyan ay mas marami pa tayong makikita [cases] if we have more data,&quot; she said.</p><p>(It only means that we will find more cases if we have more data.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/21/how-to-cope-with-covid19-lockdown-pandemic-fatigue-tips-from-psychologist-world-health-organization">One year into lockdown, coronavirus pandemic fatigue grips Philippines</a></li></ul><p>The quality of living during the pandemic &quot;has a great impact on the psychological issues&quot; that affect a person&#x27;s mental state, Cuevas said.</p><p>&quot;We are in the same storm, but we are not on the same boat,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung iba, stable masyado ang kanilang pamumuhay ngunit yung iba ay talaga namang hirap na hirap sa pandemic,&quot; she said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DOH says 1 in 3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> patients diagnosed with neuropsychiatric condition 6 months after contracting the disease. <a href="https://t.co/3lzl4cpqsE">pic.twitter.com/3lzl4cpqsE</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1394935820562276355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Contracting COVID-19 also affects a person&#x27;s mental health as a DOH study showed that 1 in every 3 COVID-19 patients was diagnosed with neuropsychiatric condition 6 months after being infected with the disease, Cuevas said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/07/21/1-in-3-covid-survivors-suffer-mental-neurological-problems-says-study">1 in 3 COVID survivors suffer mental, neurological problems, says study</a></li></ul><p>&quot;The coronavirus pandemic is inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Psychological impact includes elevated rates of stress or anxiety... Marami po sa mga (There are a lot of) adult Filipinos are highly stressed,&quot; she said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DOH says 1 in 3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> patients diagnosed with neuropsychiatric condition 6 months after contracting the disease. <a href="https://t.co/3lzl4cpqsE">pic.twitter.com/3lzl4cpqsE</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1394935820562276355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The government has been providing cash aid and food packages to indigent families to ensure that Filipinos would not have to worry about survival during the pandemic, Cuevas said.</p><p>&quot;Isa yan sa mga pinakamalaking binigay na security o binigay na serbisyo ng gobyerno,&quot; she said.</p><p>(That is one of the biggest services the government is doing to provide security.)</p><p>Several crisis hotlines have also been launched to help those who have mental health issues, she said. </p><p>In April, the hotline received 1,805 calls, which is 200 calls higher than the 1,604 calls recorded in March, according to data from the DOH.</p><p>&quot;Around 31 percent [of calls in April] are about anxiety and depressive symptoms, and 22 percent referrals to psychiatrists and psychologists,&quot; Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an earlier interview.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/21/govt-mental-health-hotline-receives-more-calls-as-covid-19-pandemic-rages-in-philippines">Gov&#x27;t mental health hotline receives more calls as COVID-19 pandemic rages in Philippines</a></li></ul><p>Between January and February, the same mental health crisis hotline has registered a monthly average of 289 suicide-related calls, the DOH said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/22/21/suicide-philippines-data-2020-2021-national-center-for-mental-health-crisis-hotline-calls-increase-doh">Nearly 600 suicide-related calls recorded in January-February: DOH</a></li></ul><p>The NCMH hotline can be reached through the following numbers:</p><p>▪ 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free)</p><p>GLOBE / TM Subscribers<br/>▪ 0917-899-8727<br/>▪ 0966-351-4518</p><p>SMART / SUN / TNT Subscribers<br/>▪ 0908-639-2672</p><p>The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier said it would conduct a separate survey on impact of COVID-19 to mental health.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/21/philippines-conducts-survey-on-impact-of-covid-19-to-mental-health">Philippines conducts survey on impact of COVID-19 to mental health</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1688342" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><em><strong>Editor&#x27;s note:</strong><br/>A group in the Philippines is dedicated to addressing those who have suicidal tendencies.</em></div><div><em>The crisis hotlines of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation aim to make these individuals feel that someone is ready to listen to them.</em></div><div><em>These are their hotline numbers:<br/>Information and Crisis Intervention Center (02) 804-HOPE (4673) 0917-558-HOPE (4673) or (632) 211-4550 0917-852-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-6876 0917-842-HOPE (4673) or (632) 964-4084<br/>In Touch Crisis Lines: 0917-572-HOPE or (632) 211-1305 (02) 893-7606 (24/7) (02) 893-7603 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm) Globe (63917) 800.1123 or (632) 506.7314 Sun (63922) 893.8944 or (632) 346.8776<br/> </em><br/> </div>

At least 3.6 million Filipinos battling mental health issues amid pandemic: DOH

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At least 3.6 million Filipinos battling mental health issues amid pandemic: DOH

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 19, 2021 07:06 PM PHT

Read More:

mental health

health

DOH

Department of Health

COVID-19

coronavirus

depression

anxiety

bipolar disorder

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