As COVID-19 cases in the Philippines continue to reach record-high numbers each day, more Filipinos would have to go on isolation or quarantine, which could trigger an array of mental health problems including depression and anxiety.
The pandemic has spawned a mental health crisis on top of the public health emergency that entered its third year in 2022. The National Center for Mental Health in September 2020 reported a five-fold increase in distress calls to its hotline to 400 per month from 80 before the quarantine started in March of that year.
The Department of Health has issued a list of hotline numbers which people who may be suffering from mental health issues can call while on quarantine or isolation. The numbers are sorted per region so that assistance could reach them as soon as possible.
Here are the numbers you can call:
The DOH has also launched the Lusog Isip, the country's first mobile app for mental health and self-care intended specifically for Filipinos. The app features evidence-based tools to help users improve their well-being and cope with stress, the department said.
The Lusog Isip app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store of iOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users.
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