By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Department of Health has established suicide prevention hotlines in the country. For those who need help, they could call 0917-899-8727 (USAP) and 0917-989-8727 (USAP). Other helplines include that of In Touch Philippines with call crisis lines +63 2 893 7603 (Landline); +63 917 800 1123 (Globe); and +63 922 893 8944 (Sun). The Philippine Red Cross’ 24/7 suicide prevention hotline, toll-free HOPELINE 2919 (for Globe & TM Subscribers) 091 7558 4673 or 8044673.
The battle against mental health continues.
Another man died of apparent suicide early morning of October 5 at Zarraga, Iloilo.
The body of Isidro Selorio, 48, of Barangay Talibong Dos, Zarraga town, was found around 6 am Monday at Talibong village.
While he appeared to have some scratches on the legs, his family did not believe that there was foul play in his death.
His older brother, Remigio, claimed that his brother was suffering from nervous breakdown.
Before he died, Isidro claimed someone was out to get him.
Remigio said that Isidro has not been eating lately and refused to sleep.
He claimed that his brother appeared to be bothered after he allegedly struck someone in their village.
“But I had been telling him to calm down because it’s just a small problem that could be solved,” he said.
But it did not appease the victim.
Over the weekend, he was accused of trying to steal a motorcycle in Pototan town.
He was last seen alive Sunday evening after Remigio’s child brought him dinner.
It is believed that he went for a walk after that and later hanged himself on a tree.
From January 1 to September 30, 2020, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) recoded 72 suicide cases in the province.
Passi City recorded the most number of incidents with nine while Cabatuan and Leon have five each.
For the same period last year, the IPPO logged 67 cases.
Of the 67 cases, 60 were due to depression; 3 due to family problems, 2 because of nervous breakdown, and one each for mental instability and “third party.”
