The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the global community in observing the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day. With this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” we are called to dispel myths, break stigma, and nurture conversations rooted in openness, empathy, and support.
This observance reminds us that everyone carries their own struggles, often unseen by others. It calls for greater compassion and understanding as we affirm that mental health is not a privilege but a basic human right.
From January to June 2025 alone, reports from the Philippine National Police recorded nearly 2,000 deaths by suicide. Behind these numbers are lives lost and families left grieving. This alarming reality underscores the urgent need to strengthen mental health services in the country, expand awareness programs, and dismantle the stigma that too often prevents people from seeking help.
In this regard, CHR reiterates its strong support for the passage of proposed bills on mental health. These include House Bill No. 726 and House Bill No. 1361, as well as Senate Bill No. 2598, or the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) Mental Health Services Act; and House Bill No. 163, or the Mental Health and Digital Well-Being for Youth Act of 2025. To strengthen community and institutional responses, we support House Bill No. 890, or the Creation of Mental Health Centers in Every Region; House Bill No. 1888, or the National Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response Program; and House Bill No. 1891, or the Accessible and Age-Appropriate Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents Act.
In the workplace, we welcome House Bill No. 1890, or the Mental Health and Burnout Prevention in the Workplace Act, and Senate Bill No. 323, or the Mental Health Wellness Leave Act, which recognize the importance of safeguarding workers’ well-being. Likewise, we recognize the significance of family-centered support through House Bill No. 1853, or the Additional Maternity Leave for Women with Postpartum Depression Act.
To address the shortage of mental health professionals, we support House Bill No. 2710, or the Psychology Scholarship and Return-Service Program. Together, these proposed measures complement Republic Act No. 11036, or the Mental Health Act, and affirm Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which recognizes the right of every individual to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
In pursuit of furthering awareness, CHR has also published a Handbook on the Right to Mental Health, a resource that sheds light on the current state of mental health services in the Philippines and outlines practical ways individuals and communities can advance this cause. The handbook is accessible here: https://bit.ly/MentalHealthResourceBook
On this World Suicide Prevention Day, we renew our call: end the stigma against mental health. Silence and prejudice wound those who struggle, while empathy and acceptance pave the way for healing. Every act of compassion helps build a society where seeking help is safe, hope is restored, and every life is valued. The Commission reaffirms its mandate to uphold the right to mental health and stands ready to work with government and communities to ensure that no one is left behind. ###
If you or someone you know needs help, the Department of Health, through the National Center for Mental Health, has a national crisis hotline to assist people with mental health concerns. The hotline can be reached through the following numbers:
Cellphone Lines: 0919-057-1553; 0917-899-8727; 0966-351-4518
Trunk Line: [02] 8531-9001 loc 301/304 (PACD)