WVMC relaunches mental health crisis hotline

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, formally relaunched its Psychiatry Crisis Hotline amid what it called an “alarming rise” in suicide and self-harm cases managed by the hospital.

The hotline currently operates through two mobile numbers: 0931-025-1276 for the Psychiatry Department in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, and 0912-091-1461 for the Mental Health Unit in Pototan, Iloilo.

Dr. Valerie Henna Andora, training officer of the Psychiatry Department, said the hotline is intended to provide 24/7 response services. However, it will temporarily operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She added that crisis calls may also be directed to the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City at 0919-057-1553 and 0917-899-8727.

Andora said responders trained in crisis intervention will initially handle the hotline. These include Psychiatry consultants and resident doctors.

She said the hospital plans to expand the service by training nurses, psychologists, and volunteers to answer calls.

She emphasized that all information shared with responding doctors will remain confidential under the Data Privacy Act (Republic Act 10173) and other relevant laws.

“All calls [to the crisis hotline] will be supervised by a consultant psychiatrist, to ensure the quality of calls and our management,” Andora said.

Dr. Donaldo Tugbang, a WVMC medical specialist, said the hotline has received both mental health–related and non–mental health–related calls since its soft relaunch in November.

He said most inquiries were for non-mental health concerns, such as scheduling appointments with resident physicians and the outpatient department, neuropsychiatric examination requests, and general questions about psychiatric services and facilities.

He said mental health-related calls included suicide and self-harm concerns, cases of violence and bullying, substance abuse, and anxiety and sleep disturbances.

Other inquiries involved questions about psychiatric medications.

Tugbang said the hotline currently uses a five-step process flow. He added that more steps may be introduced as the system improves.

He emphasized that part of the process involves referring non-emergency callers to the nearest service providers, including rural health units, provincial or municipal hospitals, and accredited facilities with licensed mental health professionals.

Dr. Rowena Cosca, chief of the Psychiatry Department, said WVMC assumed control of the hotline after the Department of Health–Western Visayas Center for Health Development, its previous operator, relocated to Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

In a press release issued before the relaunch, WVMC reported a surge in crisis-related admissions and referrals from other clinical departments.

“[T]he hospital recorded 4 cases in January, 6 in February, 8 in March, 12 in April, 7 in May, and 12 in June — figures that reflect a growing mental health burden and the urgent need for strengthened crisis response mechanisms,” WVMC said.

Dr. Ma. Cristina V.C. Woo, chief medical professional staff II, said the department logs an average of 200 cases per day.

“That is apart from the number of emergency cases that they see because of mental health. These are not just numbers or census, but this reflects […] the community, the young individuals who need support, guidance, and who seek safety,” Woo said.

Tugbang said WVMC reported 34 self-harm cases as of Nov. 26, 2025, to the National Surveillance System for Suicide Attempts and Self-Harm.

Speaking on behalf of WVMC Chief Dr. Joseph Dean Nicolo, Woo expressed full administrative support for the hotline.

“We are committed to [providing] the necessary resources [and] the coordination to ensure that our service will always be 24/7, reliable, and professionally managed,” she said.