“Deaths due to intentional self-harm rose by 25.7% in 2020 compared to the previous year”

Cases of death due to self-harm spiked in the Philippines as Filipinos continue to grapple with the challenges caused by the pandemic, particularly with the economic struggle.

According to the latest figure released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), “deaths due to intentional self-harm recorded a 25.7 percent increase from the previous year, making it the 27th leading cause of death in 2020, from rank 31 in 2019. 

More than 3,000 cases of intentional self-harm were recorded in 2020, which was higher than the 2,808 deaths registered in 2019.

Ischaemic heart diseases and diabetes mellitus continue to top the leading causes of death among Filipinos. The number of registered deaths exceeds its averages in the last five years (2015-2019).

Meanwhile, deaths due to pneumonia had the most significant decline, with -24.3 thousand fewer deaths in 2020 than its average in the past five years.

The top three causes of death in 2020 retained their respective ranks in terms of their averages in the last five years. 

(Source: Philippine Statistics Authority)