September 10, 2024
Writer: K Ballesteros
Moderators: Tobey Fhar Isaac Calayo
Graphics: Krystle Mae Labio
Spaces: Richardson Mojica, Bill Fuentes
Every year, the International Assocation for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborate to celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) to respond to the critical global health issue which affects families, individuals, and communities all over the world. Suicide prevention is especially necessary in the Philippines, where the suicide rate continues to climb despite continued interventions from various government agencies.
A recent study reports that in the Philippines, there was an average of 40 deaths by suicide every month, with over half by individuals below 30 years old [1]. Official reports from the Department of Health (DOH) corroborate these findings; the DOH-managed Eastern Visayas Medical Center reported that in their region, one in ten students seriously attempted to commit suicide [2] in 2023. Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported 404 students died by suicide between 2021 to 2022, with 2,147 attempts in the same period [3]. Meanwhile, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) conducted by the University of the Philippines population Institute (UPPI) found that one in five young Filipinos aged between 15 to 25 years old have considered ending their life [4]. According to this study, 7.5% of Filipino youths had attempted suicide in 2021, equivalent to a staggering 1.5 million young individuals[4].
In response to the impact of suicide on different communities, the World Suicide Prevention Day has taken on the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action to Start the Conversation. WASPD seeks to initiate more in-depth conversations to address the pervasive stigma that surrounds suicide and mental health, and to ultimately create a safer and more understanding community that is ready to offer support at the individual, social, and systems levels. This is especially necessary in the Philippine context, where YAFS5 found that few Filipino youths sought help overall. Those who did seek out help were more likely to go to close friends or their peers than their guardians for help [4]. The study also emphasized that help-seeking behavior is hampered by multiple challenges, including the stigma attached to mental health conditions.
Join #MentalHealthPH this September 10 as we celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day, and continue to work towards zeroing the stigma around suicide. We join the international Association for Suicie Prevention and the World Health Organization in starting conversations about mental health, to prevent the rise of stigma and discrimination. Tara, #UsapTayo!
#UsapTayo Questions:
- How do we help prevent deaths by suicide in our daily lives?
- How can we change the narrative around suicide?
- How might we encourage each other to seek help when we go through mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts or ideation?
#UsapTayo Special Activity for WSPD:
- Post a song / image / video clip that represents the best in what the world has to offer, to help remind everyone that there is always hope, and to remind the community to #KeepGoing
CITED
[1] Youth suicide rates have escalated in the Philippines. (n.d.). https://www.atlanticfellows.org/project/youth-suicide-rates-have-escalated-in-the-philippines
[2] Meniano, S. (2024, February 13). DOH 8 calls for more prevention efforts amid rising suicide cases. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218753
[3] Government must urgently intervene to protect mental health of children in the Philippines, says Save the Children – Philippines. ReliefWeb. (2023, February 10). https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/government-must-urgently-intervene-protect-mental-health-children-philippines-says-save-children
[4] Pinoy youth in worse mental shape today, nationwide survey indicates. UP Population Institute. (2022, October 10). https://www.uppi.upd.edu.ph/news/2022/pinoy-youth-in-worse-mental-health-shape-today
