The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) issued an appeal to the public, media practitioners, and online content creators to maintain ethical responsibility and safeguard the dignity of individuals undergoing psychosocial crises or living with mental health conditions.
The reminder follows circulating social media footage showing a citizen extending assistance to an individual who appeared to have a mental disability. Addressing the issue, DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao stressed that vulnerable circumstances must never be exploited for online engagement.
“Every person who has a mental health condition or is experiencing a psychosocial crisis should be treated with dignity, respect, privacy, and utmost care. Their condition should never be used as a source of public spectacle, entertainment, or content to gain views on social media,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday.
The agency highlighted that capturing or disseminating identifying footage during an individual’s most vulnerable moments breaches human rights principles.
“We urge the public, media, and content creators to exercise responsibility in handling photos, videos, and personal information involving persons experiencing a psychosocial crisis. Do not record, share, identify, or sensationalize people at their most vulnerable moment. We need to protect their dignity, not only as an act of compassion but also as part of upholding their human rights,” Dumlao stressed.
“Having a camera and an audience does not remove the responsibility to respect another person’s privacy and dignity. The pursuit of online views must never come at the expense of another person’s helplessness, as these forms of content may amplify stigma or cause harm to the person involved and their family,” the spokesperson added.
The department reiterated that Philippine laws protect persons with disabilities from public humiliation. Under Republic Act No. 7277, also known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities (as amended by Republic Act No. 9442), any action that shames, ridicules, or vilifies persons with disabilities, whether online or offline, is illegal and punishable.
While the DSWD recognizes the good intentions of citizens who offer assistance, Dumlao clarified that aid initiatives must strictly adhere to legal standards to preserve safety and accountability.
“The Department’s doors are always open to work with private individuals and groups who want to help our vulnerable kababayans. We assure concerned citizens that the DSWD and our attached agency, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) can help identify appropriate interventions that are effective, inclusive and respectful of the rights and dignity of persons with mental health conditions or experiencing psychosocial crisis,” Dumlao stated.