In 2016, then-President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, initiated a state-sponsored drug war through punitive law enforcement and extrajudicial actions. 1 Such measures have led to thousands of fatalities, including innocent victims and children, and engendered significant psychological distress amongst relatives and communities, predominantly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. 2–4 Underpinned by structural inequities, socio-political determinants, and help-seeking barriers, these circumstances have exacerbated unmet care needs. Accordingly, researchers have advocated for national drug policy changes. 1 Yet, legislative reforms have stalled, particularly in relation to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which entails severe penalties for illicit drug-related activities. Although the newly-elected administration in 2022 signalled a shift towards rehabilitative approaches for substance use disorders, reports indicate that lethal drug raids, human rights abuses, and violent incidents have continued. 5 Whilst the Philippine drug war initially drew condemnation both regionally and internationally, its ongoing impact on marginalised and poorer communities has been overlooked in recent times. From a psychiatric perspective, affected families have experienced short-and long-term stressors, specifically those who endured a critical life event, such as a relative’s death. 3, 4

Due to underreported fatalities and limited help-seeking, it is difficult to estimate the true extent of this mental health burden. Nevertheless, evidence shows how Filipinos exposed to drug-related killings had higher vulnerabilities for severe mental distress and post-traumatic stress disorder. 4 This is compounded by insufficient death investigations, leaving many bereaved individuals still seeking closure. 3 Socioeconomically disadvantaged families have frequently been unable to finance adequate burials, intensifying psychological stressors. Most have paid to intern relatives in “apartment-style” tombs for five