Senator Christopher “Bong” Go today expressed concern on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and other crises on the mental health of Filipinos.

Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, thus called on concerned agencies to strengthen government interventions, particularly on provision of psychosocial assistance and support. 

“Alam mo, ‘yun ang problema natin sa panahong ito, ‘yung mental health, isa ito sa dapat tutukan ng ating gobyerno,’’ he said. (You know, that is our problem at this time, this mental health, this is one that our government has to focus on.)

Go said he was alarmed by a report where a father killed his two children out of desperation on December 25 for losing his wife to suicide the day before. 

Based on reports, the suspect named Aiko Siancunco went into depression because his loss of job caused problems in the family. 

The senator from Davao said he would get the details of the incident so he could help the extended members of the family provide a proper burial and cope with the loss. 

“Kunin ko lang po ang detalye para matulungan nating makalabas. Kami na po ang bahalang tumulong para mailabas sa morgue. Nakakalungkot, tutulungan natin,’’ he explained.  (I will get the details so we could get them out of the morgue. It’s really sad, we will help them.)

Go has called on the government to explore all possibilities of extending needed guidance to families, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect not only the livelihood and physical health of Filipinos, but also their emotional and mental conditions caused by the hardships. 

Go suggested that the Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) should extensively assess the needs of families in distress in order to identify the needed interventions that government must provide.

He also urged DSWD to tap social workers in managing hotlines where individuals suffering from mental health issues can call for support. 

Go further explained that the government must act immediately to protect the welfare and well-being of Filipinos amid these trying times. 

He has previously called on the government to provide free mental health care services to Filipinos.

He had urged DOH, Department of Labor and Employment  (DOLE) and other concerned national government agencies to work together to expand access to free mental health care and psychosocial support services during the COVID-19 pandemic

“With or without the pandemic, mental health is very important. Government must make sure that all kinds of psychosocial services and assistance are accessible to our people suffering from all forms of mental health conditions,” Go said in previous statements.

The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) had previously reported that the average number of calls they received in its crisis hotline per month increased from 400 from May 2019 to February 2020, to 876 from March to August 2020 after the imposition of quarantine restrictions last March. According to the agency, the main reasons for the calls were anxiety-related concerns and referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Go also expressed that while these numbers reflect the drastic increase of mental health concerns, many cases also remain underreported.  

Hence, he is also pushing the government for the expansion of mental health services and raise the awareness on mental health issues.