ILOILO – The rising suicide cases among teenagers in the province spurred Provincial Board member Carol-V Espinosa-Diaz of the Fifth District to introduce an ordinance that would create a mental health board and mental health programs.
“We want to intervene. We want to be pro-active about this and take steps,” Diaz said on Friday.
A provision in the ordinance stipulates the help that would be extended by the local government units, barangays and schools to address youth suicide.
“Suicide is brought about by several factors that we might disregard, but it is already very blatant and existing in our society,” said Diaz, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on social welfare.
In Iloilo province alone since January this year, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office recorded 19 suicide cases involving youngsters in the 10 to 19 years old age range.
A provision in the ordinance stipulates the help that would be extended by the local government unit, barangays, and schools to address youth suicide.
The ordinance is pushing to form a mental health board that can respond to emergency crisis 24/7.
Diaz proposed for the mental health board to be led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and its members to include the Iloilo police, provincial health personnel, among others.
To respond to concerns of teenagers, the ordinance seeks Iloilo to have its 24/7 hotline that will be manned “by trained personnel on how to approach mental disorder.”
“There are teenagers dealing with mental disorders, they are actually clinically sick but there’s no proper intervention and it leads to suicide,” she said.
Diaz added her proposed ordinance will also intensify the province’s mental health awareness campaign in schools.
“We will require the mandatory, psychological counseling and assessment in educational institution. We will make sure that a teenager has undergone counseling before he or she graduates,” she said.
Diaz’s ordinance was passed on the first reading during the SP’s regular session on Oct. 8.
While the SP intervenes through passing ordinances, the province had in place 49 school-based multi-purpose teen centers run by the Iloilo Provincial Population Office.
Teenagers with concerns can approach peer helpers at the teen centers for help and guidance. (With PNA/PN)