BACOLOD City – To help persons suffering from depression, the city council passed a resolution urging the City Health Office (CHO) to have an active depression hotline number.
Through the hotline, residents could immediately report cases of depression, and for the CHO to conduct appropriate action, said Councilor Israel Salanga.
In January, the Police Regional Office 6 recorded 36 suicide cases – 28.57 percent higher than the 28 cases recorded in the same period in 2022.
Negros Occidental recorded the highest at 13 cases, followed by Aklan and Bacolod City with four cases each, and Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Iloilo City with three cases each.
Salanga cited an article entitled “Depression caused by heartbreak on the rise”, which posited that the number of young Filipinos who felt depressive symptoms doubled from 2013 to 2021.”
It was also cited that young Filipinos aged 15 to 24 years who felt depressive symptoms jumped sharply, and of this, 62 percent did not reach out to anyone. Those who attempted to end their life rose from three to seven percent.
A readily available hotline provided by the CHO would be very helpful in preventing the serious adverse effects of depression, which is self-infliction of harm and suicide, added Salanga.
The councilor also said many non-government organizations in the city advocating mental health are open to coordinate with the local government.
The city government may tap the services of psychiatrists, doctors who specialize in mental health, including substance use disorders and are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, to give advices to those who call the hotline number, or to train casual employees so that they could properly give advice to those who are seeking help, Salanga said./PN
