Suicide awareness pushed to be strengthened in schools

The City Government of Davao, in partnership with the Philippine Mental Health Association and the Department of Education (DepEd), conducted a seminar last week with the theme “Closer Look at Suicide: From Awareness to Action.”

Its main objective is to give additional knowledge and guidance to DepEd personnel in case they will face suicide problems with their students. Present during the seminar are health section personnel and mental health coordinator of the DepEd Division of Davao City,

“Ang objective ani is awareness, especially to those who are in the frontlines og kani nga mga frontliners kaning naa sa DepEd (The objective is awareness, especially those who are in the frontlines and these frontliners are those who are from the DepEd),” PMHA Chapter Executive Manager Teofilo Lumikid said in an interview with the Madayaw Dabaw team.

Data from the City Health Office bared that in 2022, 53 cases of suicide were recorded in Davao City with a nine- year-old as the youngest. Meanwhile, from January until April of 2023, 29 cases have already been recorded with 13 years old as the youngest case.

Dr. Luis Antonio Flores, the head of the Mental Wellness Center, said most of the suicide cases in Davao City experienced mental health problems like severe depression and anxiety and these had not been given immediate attention.

“Pag depressed man gud ang individual down ang tanan nilang system, ang emotions nila down pati ang ilang mood is unstable. Ang severe depression maka-cause pud og psychosis, pag naay psychosis naa na’y command nga hallucination naa nay musugo naa nay mohunghung, tendency ana mukusog jud ang kuan sa depression nga mu-suicide, mo self-harm (Once an individual is depressed, all of their systems are down, their emotions are down, even their mood is unstable. Severe depression can also cause psyschosis, once there is psychosis there is that command, the halluncination that whispers on their ears, there is a high tendency that the depression will lead to suicide, self-harm),” Flores said in an interview with Madayaw Dabaw.

The Davao City LGU, in partnership with the PMHA Davao Chapter, continues to cater to clients with mental health problems.

In 2022, the City Government of Davao opened the Mental Wellness Center for the Homeless. It is not only a facility for mentally challenged homeless individuals but also functions as an outpatient counseling service center.

In year 2019, the Sangguniang Panlugsod passed the “Mental Health Ordinance of Davao City”. This ordinance provides for an integrated and comprehensive approach to the development of the City Mental Health Care Program and Delivery System to deliver appropriate services and interventions, including provision of mental health protection, care, treatment and other essential services to those with mental illness or disability.

Just recently, the Sangguniang Panlungsod also approved the “Anti-Bullying Ordinance”.

Last year, the PMHA assisted 300 clients, not only from Davao City but also from other parts of the country.

“Aduna ta’y services, counseling, psychotherapy pwede pud ta mag psychiatric consultation. Dili pud siya limited sa one-on-one, pwede pud ta mag group session labi na kung naa tay family nga nakasinati og suicide…right now naa tay six active psychologists and one psychiatrist and two technical staff nga naga process online. We are glad to say nga receptive, nindot ang pagdawat sa information nga ingon ani kay ang bottom line is free siya (We have services: counseling, psychotherapy. We can also provide psychiatric consultation and it is not limited to one-on-one, we can also accommodate group sessions, especially if there is a family that has experienced a case of suicide… right now we have six active psychologists, one psychiatrist, and two technical staff that process online, we are glad to say that– receptive, they receive the information well because the bottom line is that the services are for free),” Precious Manliguez, a member of the PMHA Davao Chapter, said.

Those who are encountering mental health problems may call the PMHA Davao Hotline: 0906 586 7136 or reach out to their Facebook Page: Philippine Mental Health Association – Davao Chapter. CIO