PNP to use 911 platform to help Pinoys suffering from depression, 'sextortion' victims
TORRE (PNP FB)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be strengthening its helpline for Filipinos suffering from depression amid the rising cases of people taking their own lives in the country.
Citing data, PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said around 2,000 Filipinos took their own lives from January to June this year, which he said, is equivalent to around 10 to 11 cases per day.
“We are going to place a facility, a helpline through our 911 for all our kababayan who want someone to talk to, who need some people to share what they feel,” said Torre.
“Currently, in our 911 system, callers can press 1 for police assistance, press 2 for fire and press 3 for medical emergencies. Press 4 is if they want someone to talk to,” he added.
Torre said callers will be connected to counsellors and volunteers who are willing to provide pieces of advice and other forms of assistance for Filipinos suffering from depression.
Aside from using the 911 platform to assist Filipinos suffering from depression, Torre said they are also crafting measures to provide a hotline for people who are being blackmailed via sextortion.
“This sextortion modus is a sensitive and complex problem that we recognize because most of the victims would not seek help due to the kind of situation that they are in,” said Torre.
“So we are crafting measures to establish a helpline for the victims of blackmail, especially those using sex videos,” he added.
Torre said the helpline was aimed at encouraging more victims to seek help, especially from the police, in order to ensure that those involved would be punished.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group earlier advised the victims that the suspects will repeatedly initiate the blackmail, unless they are arrested and charged.
Torre said they are now finalizing the mechanisms of the helpline and that the project would be rolled out soon.