THE Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday that the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) hotline received a total of 612 calls during the holiday season. It added that the calls recorded from Dec. 21 to 28 were from individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, particularly young adults ages 18 to 30 years old. ”Anxiety and depressive symptoms were the primary reasons for asking for help from the DOH’s Mental Health Hotline on the last Sunday of the year,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa in an interview, underscoring the emotional toll the holidays can take on people, including public servants working far from their families. Due to the high volume of calls seeking mental health advice, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the department is considering additional crisis hotlines linked to DOH hospitals. ”It is being thoroughly considered. Any timelines must be realistic and will depend on the assessment of infrastructure and personnel needs,” Domingo added. The DOH report said that besides symptoms of depression and anxiety, concerns about romantic relationships and family issues were among the callers’ reasons for seeking help. It added that the number of calls peaked on Dec. 23. In addition to fireworks-related injuries, road crashes and noncommunicable diseases, the DOH is closely monitoring mental health issues during the holiday season. The Health department urged people experiencing emotional distress, loneliness or mental health challenges to call the NCMH 1553 hotline, which operates around the clock.