NTF laments deaths due to anxiety, depression amid COVID-19

September 4, 2020

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. has lamented reports that in some areas number of deaths are high due to anxiety and depression amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In the day-end presser on Thursday night, Galvez said that in his visit in some provinces in Visayas, he heard of the sad news.

"There are some places there the the number of deaths because of anxiety and depression is higher compared to those who got sick due to COVID-19," he said.

He failed to cite the actual number of deaths and how the victims actually died.

"This pandemic has not only affected us physically, but also mentally and emotionally as well," Galvez said as he stressed the need to address the problem.

He said that even in his meeting with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and the entire Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, they have discussed the matter.

"We believe that the psychological impact of the sickness is huge to our patients, especially to the locally stranded individuals, returning overseas Filipinos and health frontliners," he said.

"We learned that a lot of patients feel an overwhelming sense of pain and rejection from their families," he said.

But Galvez also cited that not only the COVID-19 patients are being affected emotionally but their families as well because of their worries over their family members who are sick.

He urged those suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, discrimination and other emotional challenges due to pandemic to call the COVID-19 help lines.

Due to the pandemic, movement of the people have been restricted as the government advised the public to stay at home if they have no important things to do outside. Celerina Monte/DMS