Baguio: The City Health Services Office (CHSO) has intensified its mental health awareness campaign amid reports of 35 deaths by suicide from January to September this year, higher than the 29 cases recorded in the same period last year.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ricky Ducas, CHSO mental health coordinator, said Monday that their team has been conducting talks, symposia, and sectoral meetings to highlight available government programs and interventions to address the increasing cases of suicide. As part of the campaign, posters and hotline numbers are being distributed in schools, barangays, and public spaces to make counseling services more accessible to the public.
“We want every individual to know they are not alone-that there is always someone who can help,” Ducas said during an interview. He added that the city government continues to train school-based support groups and volunteers to identify early signs of mental health struggles.
From January to August 2025, more than 1,500 individuals availed themselves of the city’s mental health services, higher than the 1,000 cases reported in 2024. Ducas said this reflects growing public awareness of mental health issues, though challenges remain.
Data show that 25 of the suicide cases this year involved men, most of whom were city residents. Financial difficulties, online gambling, and family-related crises were identified as common factors. “The rising number of suicide deaths remains alarming,” Ducas said. “But these cases are preventable if symptoms of depression and anxiety are addressed early with proper interventions,” he explained.
He urged families and communities to be proactive in seeking help for loved ones, stressing that timely counseling and treatment can prevent self-harm and save lives.