Department of Health

February 8, 2021

Dear Marielle Jem Patricio,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Feb 04, 2021 07:16:06 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for Suicide Statistics in the Philippines.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance this Office does not have the information you have requested. 

Thank you for your interest in Mental Health and for incorporating mental health in your research. Please refer to the Mental Health Program posted at the DOH website
( https://www.doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-program) for an overview of the services we provide. As for your request, we have received through eFOI (Freedom of Information) platform your specific queries. It is part of the mandate of the Department of Health to integrate in our health information systems mental health data  including data on complete and attempted suicides (Section 30 of Republic Act 11036, "Mental Health Act"). Unfortunately, we are yet to set up a reporting system for this one. As stated in Section 21 of the law, "Mental health services shall also include mechanisms for suicide intervention, prevention, and response strategies, with particular attention to the concerns of the youth. Twenty-four seven (24/7) hotlines, to provide assistance to individuals with mental health conditions, especially individuals at risk of committing suicide, shall be set up, and existing hotlines shall be strengthened." As a proxy, you may refer to the number of calls received through the hotlines. We have one in NCMH, known as the  NCMH CRISIS HOTLINE, which can be reached at 0917 899 8727 (USAP) and 989 8727 (USAP) operated 24/7. There are also hotlines for regional offices/CHDs. The number of calls received are yet to be consolidated and centralized. We are yet to set up a system for suicide surveillance. In the meantime, you may refer to the attachment for the literature review on suicide in the Philippines. 

For further assistance you may review the FAQ section of the eFOI site: https://pcoomaster07202018100000-dot-efoi-ph.appspot.com/help.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Undersecretary Lilibeth C. David, Chair of Data Governance Oversight Committee/ DOH Central Appeals and Review Committee, at foi@doh.gov.ph. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,
FOI Officer