28 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic package, the government’s financing mechanism for the delivery of primary care services and commodities.106 123 In its statement dated 30 June 2021, the Commission on Human Rights “lauds and supports PhilHealth plan to include mental health services in its primary care package for Filipinos through its Konsulta package.”107 124 The National Center for Mental Health’s (NCMH) said its crisis hotline received 11,017 calls in 2020, 12% or 1,282 of which were suicide-related. The NCMH official also noted the rise in suicide-related calls in 2021. As of 30 June 2021, out of 8,949 calls received, about 28% or 2,743 were suicide-related.108 125 In the 05 July 2021 press release of the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA), cases of death due to intentional self-harm had increased by 57.3% in 2020 as compared to the previous year, making it the 25th leading cause of death in 2020, from rank 31 in 2019. The cases had spiked from 2,810 registered deaths in 2019 to 4,420 deaths in 2020.109 126 In a news article published by Business World on 12 August 2021, a study by mental health firm MindNation which was released in June 2021, found that 53% of Filipino workers experienced mental health challenges during the global pandemic. These include: fears about contracting the coronavirus, financial pressures, personal problems, work pressure, and trying to juggle work and family matters. 127 MindNation, which conducted the study from September 2020 to April 2021, found that workers lacked focus and concentration, and felt they no longer enjoyed things that made them happy in the past. Workers also had low self-confidence and had a hard time sleeping. The study also showed that 13% of workers took a leave of absence due to mental health problems, while 35% had productivity issues, losing an average of two hours daily. A quarter of those polled said they were thinking about quitting their jobs. It also said these 106 Domingo, K. (2021). PhilHealth to include mental health services in primary health care package. Retrieved from https:// news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/25/21/philhealth-includes-mental-health-primary-care 107 Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, supporting government’s move to include mental health services in primary health care package. June 30, 2021. Retrieved from https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokespersonatty-jacqueline-ann-de-guia-supporting-governments-move-to-include-mental-health-services-in-primary-healthcare-package/ 108 CNN Philippines. (2021). PSA: Suicide rate leaps by 57% in 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https:// cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/7/9/suicide-rate-leaps-57-percent-2020.html 109 Philippine Statistics Authority (2021). Causes of Deaths in the Philippines (Preliminary): January to December 2020. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/causes-deaths-philippines-preliminary-january-december-2020-0