By Jennifer P. Rendon
A smoker, 58-year-old Raul (not his real name) had been suffering from cancer.
For several days already, he had a hard time eating and only subsisted on rice water or rice porridge.
The difficulties that went along with his ailment may have driven Raul to take his own life, his family believed.
His body was found hanging inside their house in Carles, Iloilo morning of June 8, 2021.
Despite repeated calls and appeals from health and police authorities, the likes of Raul had brushed off options to have themselves treated for supposed depression.
In Iloilo province, Raul’s case was already the 42nd suicide incident since January 1, 2021.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said the number is almost the same compared to last year’s 47 cases for the same period and 46 incidents in 2019.
Records from the IPPO Investigation and Detective Management Unit indicated that most of the victims were 36 males (85.71 percent) males while only six were females.
Most of the victims (17) were 17-30 years old while 13 were 45 years old and above.
Three victims have ages ranging from 31 to 44 years and 3 to 16 years old.
Records also showed that almost all victims (39 cases or around 93 percent) died from hanging while one used a firearm and two others ingested poisonous substance.
AGE, GENDER DIFFERENCE
Authorities have considered suicide as a global phenomenon with 79% of suicides occurring in low- and middle-income countries in 2016.
Online reports indicated that suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 18th leading cause of death in 2016.
While women showed more tendency to suffer depression and attempt to end their lives, completed suicide are higher among men.
Globally, statistics would show that men are three to four times higher than that of females.
There could be several factors that could drive a person to commit suicide, but severe depression is still the most common.
There could be other factors and illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and even eating disorder.
Authorities have acknowledged that people sometimes attempt suicide not necessarily because they want to die.
Instead, they just don’t know how and where to get help.
In United States, the National Violent Death Reporting System 2015 data showed that, among men of all races, men over 65 were the most likely to die of suicides (27.67 suicides per 100,000), closely followed by men 40–64 (27.10 suicides per 100,000). Men 20–39 (23.41 per 100,000) and 15–19 (13.81 per 100,000) were less likely to die of suicides.
Since 2013, the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is being observed every September 10 to promote awareness in a bid to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world.
In the Philippines, it was deemed that the passage of Republic Act 11036 (The Mental Health Law) could address growing concerns on mental health and suicide incidents.
The law proposes a mental health policy that aims to enhance integrated mental health services, the promotion of mental health services, protection of people who use said services, and the establishment of a Philippine mental health council.
The Department of Health has constantly reminded those who have problems or those who knew individuals who are at risk of committing suicides that they could seek help mental health crisis intervention:
The suicide prevention hotline of the Center for Health Development – Western Visayas:
1-800-10-333-8336
09985324047
09255469919
WVSUMC – 3202431 loc. 162 or 209
3292360
WVMC – 3211797 loc. 186
5037708
PMHU – 5298109
