CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – Hotlines are effective in helping those in mental health crisis.
The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) shared that several studies have shown that mental health crisis hotlines have brought significant help in addressing suicidal risks among its callers.
NCMH Medical Center chief Dr. Noel V. Reyes, during the mental health conference for media in Cebu City, shared three studies conducted in different countries that show a common result of significant improvements in suicidal ideation, suicide risk, and generally the mental state.
However, of the population size of the study in Australia and Taiwan, which covered 100 and 300 callers, the study results showed immediate positive effects or a significant decrease in the callers’ emotional distress and suicidality during the telephone call.
“One more study in China, it showed that high-risk callers who were followed up three months after receiving intervention, showed reduced risk of suicidal acts and increased hopefulness,” said Reyes.
‘Hopefulness’ is a state that shows that one has come out from the depression loop.
In the Philippines, there are several existing crisis helplines such as the Hopeline, In Touch Community Services, and the NCMH Crisis Hotline.
Launched in May 2019, the NCMH operates the 24/7 nationwide hotline 1553 to provide services that would address suicide prevention through education, intervention, and response strategy.
The hotline is now in its 5th year since its implementation and has already received a total of 83,655 calls as of Aug. 31.
Of the total, at least 30 percent or 25,775 calls are suicide-related calls.
Of the total calls, three percent come from Central Visayas.
The top 10 reasons for the calls are, namely: anxiety or depressive symptoms, love or relationship problems, problems in the family, asking for referrals, need someone to talk to, inquiry regarding hospital services, problems about work or employment, psychotic symptoms, problem in school or academics, or clinically diagnosed depression.
With the increasing number of mental health concerns, Reyes shared that there are several journals today that say that the 2nd pandemic would be mental health.
“There are so many journals right now saying that the 2nd pandemic is mental health,” Reyes said.
NCMH offers a wide array of services and programs, spanning from prevention and wellness promotions through webinar and caravans, intervention services, training and capacity building, and research and information management.
One of their intervention services is ‘Tele-mental Health Response’ which provides access to mental health care remotely, especially for those who may not be able to visit the center in person due to distance.
The services include online counseling and therapy sessions, psychiatric consultations, and even referral services that are done either by phone or video conferencing.
A split platform of the Tele-mental Health Response, ‘Bagong Bayani Tele-mental Health’, is also provided for Overseas Filipino Workers experiencing mental health concerns.
The platform is in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
“Kahit nasa ibang bansa pa ang Pilipino at nagtatrabaho bilang OFW, they can also call,” Reyes said. (JJT/PIA 7 Cebu)
