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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – The youth make up 46 percent of the total suicide cases in the Philippines, the National Poison Management and Control Center of the Philippine General Hospital said.
The study said that young adults (aged 20 to 35) account for 30 percent of all suicides. The percentage of teens (aged 10 to 19-years-old) was pegged at 16 percent.
According to the 2014 World Health Organization global report, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people 15 to 29 years of age.
Alarmed by the growing number of Filipino youth committing suicide, Sen. Joel Villanueva urged the education sector to intensify its suicide prevention efforts.
Villanueva said the government should increase investment in research to reduce suicide.
Schools in the country, he added, should also establish suicide prevention hotlines.
“Some people are afraid to report or consult their suicidal ideation because they do not want to be judged as someone with mental disorder,” the senator said. “This stigma must be addressed and support system especially in schools must be readily available.”
Villanueva also lamented the “very limited” access to healthcare and support system, citing the National Center for Mental Health report that of the 490 Filipino psychiatrists, only 35 focus on disorders in children.
“Clearly, there is a need to expand the number of psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists in the country. We must also empower, train, and increase our municipal health officers so we can pay more attention to undiagnosed untreated individuals.”
Earlier, Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1163, or the Youth Suicide Prevention Act aimed at creating the National Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
The Council shall formulate strategies for youth suicide early intervention, prevention and response, the bill said./PN
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