We Tried Calling Mental Health Hotlines in the Philippines—This Is What Happened

(SPOT.ph) In times of crisis, it's almost second nature for us to unload on social media, freedom walls, and even strangers on anonymous chat platforms. Why not consider reaching out to a confidential hotline for a more constructive means of seeking support?

Crisis hotlines or helplines are 24/7 communication services providing free non-judgmental support to individuals with urgent emotional or mental concerns.  These hotlines are staffed with trained responders, including volunteers and counselors, who actively listen and provide emotional support to callers.

Don't mistake crisis hotlines for just those on the verge of suicide. Callers can ring in for anxiety and depression, but also negative thoughts, lack of appetite, interpersonal problems—we even found a review from a student praising one of the crisis hotlines for helping her manage her emotions on a low test score. After all, we owe it to ourselves to take care of mental health. Don't wait for a full blown crisis to call.

Suicide is the 25th leading cause of death in 2020, with nearly one in five Filipinos aged 15 to 24 having considered to end their lives, according to a nationwide survey by the UP Population Institute (UPPI). The National Center for Mental Health was receiving over 700 calls per month in that same period.

Reaching out for help can be intimidating, especially if you’re not sure what to expect on the other end of the line. To gain insights into this, SPOT.ph conducted a series of late-night calls to various crisis hotlines in the Philippines at 2 a.m. Here's how it went.

Also read: What to Do When a Loved One Experiences a Psychiatric Emergency

Mental health hotlines in the Philippines 

Do note that some crisis hotlines are tailored to specific demographics like Bantay Bata 163 and Rapha Helpline, while most are available to help with any issue.

Most hotlines have various communication channels for reaching out to them, mostly contactable via landline, mobile, or online messaging apps like Viber.

In Touch: Crisis Line

(02) 893-7603 (Landline)
0919-056-0709 (Smart)
0917-800-1123 (Globe)
0922-893-8944 (Smart)

In Touch: Crisis Line is a 24/7 free confidential support over the phone. It’s open to everyone in the Philippines who are in need of a listening ear for issues related to anxiety, depression, relationships, self-harm, or suicide.

An automated phone system will inform you that the call will be monitored for quality assurance, but you are allowed to give a different name if you wish to remain anonymous. If you are comfortable with this, you will be asked to stay on the line to be connected to a trained volunteer.

For more information, visit In Touch: Crisis Line on Facebook. 

Hopeline

(02) 804-4673 (Landline)
0917-558-4673 (Globe)
0918-873-4673 (Smart)

Hopeline is a 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis support helpline by the Philippine Red Cross, which is among the first to launch in the country.

We were not able to reach Hopeline via the landline number the first time around, but the second call was picked up in less than five rings. 

For more information, visit Hopeline PH on Facebook.

Tawag Paglaum – Centro Bisaya

0966-467-9626 (Globe and TM)
0939-936-5433 and 0939-937-5433 (Smart/Sun/TNT)

Tawag Paglaum – Centro Bisaya isn’t as well-known as other crisis hotlines on this list, but it deserves a place in everyone's phonebook. It’s a 24/7 call-based mental health helpline that has been around since 2017.

A volunteer picked up in five rings or so, answering me in Bisaya. Tawag Paglaum’s volunteers is said to be trained in English and Filipino as well, so no code-switching problems here.

They can also give referrals to professionals who can provide specialized help.

For more information, visit Tawag Paglaum – Centro Bisaya on Facebook

NCMH Crisis Hotline

(02) 1553 (Luzon landline)
0917-899-8727 (Globe)
0908-639-2672 (Smart)

An automated phone system will ask you to press 1 for English and press 2 for Filipino so they can connect you to a more suitable volunteer.

Severe psychological and emotional distress, including suicidal ideations. The call will be recorded in accordance with the Data Privacy Act, but gave a reassurance that the conversation will be kept strictly private and confidential.

The hotline asked us to wait until they transfer me to an available crisis responder, which only took two seconds before the call was picked up.

For more information, visit NCMH Crisis Hotline on Facebook.

Manila Lifeline Centre

(02) 896-9191 (Landline)
0917-854-9191 (Globe)

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a hold of Manila Lifeline Center for both numbers.

It said that the landline number we dialed has been migrated to eight digits, even if we were already calling the eight-digit number. Meanwhile, the Globe number cannot be reached. 

Also read: 10 Mental Health Services Available Online

NFG Mindstrong

(02) 8737 (Landline)
0918-873-4673 (Smart)
0917-558-4673 (Globe and TM)

NFG Mindstrong is an initiative of Natasha Goulbourn Foundation.

It only took one ring for the volunteer to pick up the phone—and for the first time since we started calling the hotlines on the list, it was answered by a male responder.

For more information, visit NFG MindStrong on Facebook..

Rapha Helpline

0977-652-0230 (Globe)
0961-718-2654 (Viber on Monday)
0961-718-2655 (Viber on Tuesday and Thursday)
0961-718-2658 (Viber on Wednesday and Friday)

Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPT CSA) launched Rapha Helpline to offer care and support to those in need of emotional assistance and guidance.

Rapha Helpline wasn’t able to pick up when we called since its hours are only from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, they did check in with us the next morning with a straightforward text: “Good morning. We received a missed call from this number. How can we help you?”

This was highly appreciated, considering Rapha Helpline was the only one to follow up on this list. 

For more information, visit Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse on Facebook.

Bantay Bata Helpline 163

(02) 163 (Landline)

Bantay Bata 163 is primarily for parents and children with issues about domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other child-related concerns.

We weren't able to connect with Bantay Bata 163 since they are only available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If your crisis happens to be within working hours (highly reasonable), then maybe this hotline is worth the try.

Also read: How to Search for Mental Health Support on Google