COVID-19 has impacted people’s mental health around the world and created anxiety in otherwise healthy individuals.
In 2020, before the pandemic hit, WHO reported that more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression, making it the leading cause of disability.
According to a study published earlier this year, in the US alone, “about 4 in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder.” That’s almost half of the US population.
In the Philippines, the Department of Health has continued to report that the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended livelihoods and routines, continues to exert a toll on the mental health of Filipinos.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the deaths in 2020 due to intentional self-harm grew by 25.7%, making it the 27th leading cause of death last year.
Depending on the patient, doctor and facility, the cost of mental health counseling in Metro Manila can range between P1,000 and P4,500 per session—and the frequency or need for such counseling varies.
To seek professional help amid these trying times, here’s a list of mental health care facilities that offer psychiatric help—some for free, some for a fee.
1. National Care for Mental Health (NCMH)
Contact: 5319001, 09178998727
Website: www.ncmh.gov.ph
Cost: Consultation fee is P400.
Address: Nueve de Pebrero St., Mauway, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
The National Care for Mental Health offers free basic counseling, psychological first aid, and suicide prevention. The NCMH has also opened their “E-konsultasyon” program wherein you can have free online psychiatric sessions.
2. Philippine General Hospital (PGH)
Contact: 85548400
Website: www.pghopd.up.edu.ph
Cost: Free consultation
Address: 2/F Ward 7, 1730 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
PGH provides free psychiatric consultation and counseling services through personal check-ups. Long queues are expected since this is a public hospital, but consultations are available for 24 hours.
3. Ateneo Bulatao Center
Contact: 426-5982, 426-6001 local 5268
Website: www.ateneobulataocenter.com
Cost: Brief Psychological Service (BPS), free; psychotherapy, initial fee costs P2,500 while the succeeding therapy costs P2,000 per session.
Address: Ateneo de Manila University, Bellarmine Hall, Father Masterson Drive, Katipunan Ave, Quezon City, 1108 Metro Manila
The Ateneo Bulatao Center offers counseling therapy, assessment, and training workshops for children, adolescents and adults. Due to a high number of clients, they have temporarily closed their sign-up form for their BPS. You may, however, visit their Facebook page for more updates. They also post mental health tips and reminders that may help you during times of crisis.
As for their regular paid psychotherapy session, you may fill up this form. These sessions are conducted by licensed psychologists and therapists to help you address mental health concerns.
4. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC)
Contact: 89480595, 89410342
Website: www.armmc.doh.gov.ph/ or www.facebook.com/armmcpsychiatry
Cost: Free consultation
Address: Sumulong Highway Sto. Nino, Marikina City
Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center’s acute psychiatric unit offers free basic psychiatric consultation and psychological testing.
5. UST Graduate School’s Psychotrauma Clinic
Contact: 4061611 local 4012
Cost: Free evaluation
Address: España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila
This clinic offers free psychological services including assessment, evaluation, counseling, group or individual therapy of the patient. The clinic is open from Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
6. UP-Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsycServ)
Contact: You can send them a text or Viber message through 09063743466 or 09167573157
Website: www.facebook.com/updpsycserv or https://bit.ly/PsycServRC
Address: 209B Lagmay Hall, Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
The University of the Philippines Diliman Psychosocial Services provides free counseling and psychotherapy sessions. They are currently offering free telepsychotherapy services to COVID frontliners, COVID-positive individuals, relatives of the frontliners, and anyone who is deeply affected and disturbed by the pandemic.
In need of daily tips on how to manage yourself and others throughout this pandemic? UPD PsycServ also offers a variety of infographics that may help you overcome your problems. Visit their Facebook page.
7. GrayMatters Psychological and Consultancy, Inc. Philippines
Contact: 8938 0726, 0917 709 6961
Website: www.graymattersportal.ph
Alabang branch: Penthouse A, South Gate Building, Finance Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang Muntinlupa City 1780
Makati branch: Unit 408, Plaza I, La Fuerza, Chino Roces, Makati City
GrayMatters provides mental health care services in the Philippines. They have various resources such as e-learning, digital assessment, and online counseling and consultation. They also provide online private consultations for therapy with licensed therapists.
They also give tips on how to cope with stressful times, dealing with anxiety, self-care and many more. Visit their Facebook page.
8. Mental Health First Responders (MHFR)
Contact: 0995 356 5332
Website: www.mhfirstresponse.org/
Mental Health First Responders provides emotional and peer support only through online private sessions. The volunteers and mental health professionals will meet you via a phone call (online, phone, or text) to help you reduce your fears and anxiety during the pandemic. If you are interested, you may visit this form to sign up.
Peer support services are free. If the volunteer deems you need a licensed counselor, psychologist, or a master-level clinical intern, their fees will be adjusted depending on your financial capacity. The fees may range from P500 to P2,000.
(Thumbnail and banner photo from Shutterstock)
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Why visit Quezon City?
Why is Quezon City a popular tourist destination?
Quezon City has everything to offer for a tourist. It is a delightful destination for art lovers, food lovers and nature lovers. It is the home of the GMA Network Centre where high quality Filipino radio and television programmes are produced and visitors can accidently meet Filipino celebrities on their way to work. Accommodation in Quezon City includes hotels for all budgets, guesthouses and serviced apartments.
Why is Quezon City a popular international medical tourism destination?
Quezon City has world class specialist government and private hospitals and clinics catering to overseas patients. Many of these hospitals are affiliated to American university hospitals. They are accredited by the Philippine Department of Health and international agencies including JCI and the Germany based accreditation organization TEMOS. The city government have launched an initiative to make Quezon City one of the world’s best medical tourism locations by 2020, by adopting the QC Medical Tourism Vision 2020 Commitment at the Medical Tourism Stakeholders Summit held in June 2017.
How does a medical tourist get to Quezon City from the airport?
The airport that serves Quezon City is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Medical tourists can get to Quezon City from the airport using shuttle buses and taxis. They can also find the local form of transport called Jeepneys outside the airport. Most hospitals, hotels and clinics offer pickup and drop off services for medical tourists from the airport.
What are the visa requirements for medical tourists to the Philippines?
There are no specific medical tourism visas required for patients. Patients with valid passports and return tickets from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Kuwait and a few other countries do not require a visa for staying in the Philippines for up to 21 days. Patients can get details of visa requirements by visiting the website: www.immigration.gov.ph
Mental Health Resources
A list of mental health resources focused on the Philippines. You may search this directory (Ctrl/Command + F on browser or “Find on Page” on mobile) for relevant information such as location, affordability, and type of service. To submit suggestions for inclusion in this database, please proceed to the form at the bottom of the page.
Isang itong listahan ng mga serbisyong lusog-isip na nakatuon sa Pilipinas. Maaari kang maghanap sa direktoryo na ito (gamit ng Ctrl/Command + F sa browser o “Find on Page” sa mobile) para sa importanteng detalye tulad ng lokasyon, presyo, at uri ng serbisyo. Kung kayo mismo ay isang mental health service provider, maaari ninyong isumite ang iyong impormasyon sa Google Form sa ibaba ng pahina.
Hotlines/Chat Services | [ACCESSIBLE MEDICATIONS] DOH Medicine Access Program-Mental Health (MAP-MH) Access Sites | Clinics, Centers, Institutions, and Foundations | Individual Psychological Service Providers | Online Services | Local MH Directories | School-based Resources | Mental Health Support Groups, Pages, Advocacies | Submit or Suggest a Mental Health Resource
Last updated 15 May, 2022
Philippines
Hotlines/Chat Services
If you are struggling or you know someone who is experiencing a severe crisis, you are not alone.
Kung ikaw ay nahihirapan o may kakilala kang nakararanas ng matinding krisis, hindi ka nag-iisa.
DOH Medicine Access Program-Mental Health (MAP-MH) Access Sites
PDF of MAP-MH access sites
PDF of MAP-MH access sites: http://www.silakbo.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/DOH-MAP-MH-Access-Sites-2021.pdf
This list contains the MAP-MH access sites that have requested medicines in 2021. These facilities are nationwide and dispense certain free medications for mental health.
Ang listahang ito ay naglalaman ng impormasyon tungkol sa kung saan posibleng makapagrequest ng libreng gamot galing sa Medicine Access Program for Mental Health (MAP-MH). Nagbibigay ng ilang mga libreng gamot para sa mental health ang mga facility na ito, at nationwide ang saklaw ng MAP-MH.
Possible Medicines Covered
Biperiden Hydrochloride 2 mg tablet
Carbamazepine 200 mg tablet
Chlorpromazine 200 mg tablet
Clozapine 100 mg tablet
Escitalopram 10 mg tablet
Fluoxetine 20 mg capsule
Fluphenazine Decanoate 25 mg, 1 mL amp
Flupentixol Decanoate 20 mg/mL, 1 mL amp
Diphenhydramine 50 mg/ml, 1 ml amp
Haloperidol 20 mg tablet, 5 mg tablet; 5 mg/ml, 1 ml/amp
Lithium Carbonate 450 mg MR Tablet
Olanzapine 10 mg tablet, 10 mg ODT
Quetiapine 200 mg tablet
Risperidone 2 mg tablet, 2 mg ODT
Sertraline 50 mg tablet
Divalproex Sodium 250 mg ER tablet
Sodium Valproate 333 mg + Valproic Acid 145 mg tablet
Sodium Valproate 200 mg/5 ml syrup
Lamotrigine 100 mg tablet
Donepezil 10 mg tablet
Please be advised that:
- To avail, you need to be “enrolled” in the access site, and be consulting with a health professional in the facility itself.
- Stocks are not guaranteed. Please inquire regarding both stock availability and necessary requirements. It is recommended that you call first and ask the operator for referral to the site’s Pharmacy Department (or inquire on the point-persons involved with the “medicine access program for mental health”).
Paalala na:
- Kailangang “naka-enroll” ka sa access site at nagpapatingin sa isang health professional sa mismong pasilidad.
- Hindi garantisado ang stocks sa mga access site. Magtanong muna tungkol sa mga requirements at kung may stock sila ng gamot niyo. Inirerekomenda na tawagan muna ang mga site na ito upang magtanong/humingi ng referral sa Department of Pharmacy (o sinumang naka-assign sa “Medicine Access Program for Mental Health”).
Clinics, Centers, Institutions, and Foundations
Individual Psychological Service Providers
- List of psychological service providers, via Dan Villanueva at the Anxiety and Depression Support Philippines Facebook group)
- Dr. Ampil – Metro North Medical Center, Mindanao Avenue, QC (PHP700/session as of 2018). Contact through hotline: 426-8000
- Dra. Luz Katigbak – Makati Med (PHP2000/session) +639234946673
- Dr. Constantine Della (Westgate Clinic, Alabang) – tel: 09179333446
- Dr. Kristine Roldan (ASIAN, Alabang) – Michelle (secretary) 09178636163 / 027719000
- Dr. Michelle Marie Marinas (Westgate Clinic, Alabang) – tel: 771-13-53
- Dr. Alvin Teopaco (Pampanga) – 09166880888
- Dr. Romeo Yu Enriquez (Angeles University Foundation, Pampanga; Mon-Fri, 10AM-2PM) – for appointments, you may contact his secretary Lorie – 09338504541
- Dr. Myrna Astillero (Pampanga) – 09278125905
- Jose Angelo P. Culala (Villa Teresa, Angeles, Pampanga) – Therapy, Counselling, Coaching. Contact at 09381636886 or https://web.facebook.com/TheMillennialCoachTMC/
Online Services
- Better Help –https://www.betterhelp.com/
- Online Therapy –https://www.online-therapy.com/?ref=144412
- Ginger –https://www.ginger.io/
- Spring Health –https://www.springhealth.com/
- RecoveryHub Philippines – https://app.recoveryhub.ph/
More Local MH Directories
School-based resources
- ADMU list of MH resources for students compiled by the Ateneo Office of Student Affairs (2018)
- Services based in UP Diliman
- Ugnayan ng Pahinungód provides free online basic psychosocial support services for members of the UPD community: [email protected]
- UP PsycServ signup here for members of the UPD community: bit.ly/PsycServ
International
Hotlines
Clinics, Centers and Foundations
- Intrepid Recovery – located at 1120 48th St, Mangonia Park, FL United States 33407. [email protected].
Informational pages
Online counseling
- BetterHelp – speak with a licensed counselor online
Mental Health Support Groups, Pages, Advocacies
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Submit or Suggest a Mental Health Resource
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