Unified 911 saves lives in mental health crises

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday cited the role of Unified 911 in responding to emotional and psychological emergencies, alongside medical cases.

Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) show that from January to June 2025, about 2,000 Filipinos died by suicide, with some cases linked to physical and online bullying. The DILG said the figures point to the need for timely access to crisis support and early intervention.

The Unified 911 hotline was used in November during a reported suicide attempt in Caloocan City, when a woman called emergency services after her brother ingested bleach. Emergency responders from South Caloocan were dispatched, and the patient was taken to Caloocan City Medical Center, where he survived after receiving medical attention.

According to the DILG, Unified 911 is being used not only for dispatch but also to connect callers to crisis support services. The system is being expanded to include immediate crisis counseling aimed at de-escalating situations and linking individuals to follow-up care.

The Emergency 911 National Office is coordinating with the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) to train telecommunicators in handling mental health-related calls. Calls assessed to require specialized intervention are referred to the NCMH’s 24/7 crisis hotline or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s Kalingang Bumbero Mental Health hotline.

The DILG said Unified 911 is free, confidential, and available 24/7.