MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) recorded nearly 1,000 calls to its mental health hotline during the holiday season, with a surge on December 30, 2025, mainly due to relationship issues and mental health concerns.
“A total of 961 callers reached out to the DOH Mental Health Hotline at the National Center for Mental Health from December 21, 2025, to January 2, 2026,” it said in Filipino in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“The number of callers rose on December 30, 2025, mainly due to relationship or love-life problems, anxiety, and depressive symptoms,” it added.
Those in need of mental health support may call the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1553 or contact 0919-057-1553 and 0917-899-8727.
‘Every call is a life saved‘
According to DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, every call the NCMH hotline receives is considered a life saved.
“There is no cut-off in mental health to label a situation as alarming or not; what matters is that the DOH is ready to assist anyone who wishes to call,” he told Inquirer.net in a Viber message when asked if the 961 calls were considered high.
He added that this was the first time the health department tracked the number of calls to the mental health hotline.
On December 26, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa 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 also observes an increase in suicide and depression cases during the holiday period.
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, even though they are among the most proactive in seeking help.
Meanwhile, a World Health Organization report released on September 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 aged 15 to 29. (Luisa Cabato © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
