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).
A teenage girl allegedly committed suicide morning of Feb. 5, 2020 in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
The victim was only identified as 19-year-old Rica (not her real name), a resident of a far-flung village in Cabatuan.
Rica was declared dead at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital.
Police Major Niño Leonard Amar, Cabatuan police chief, said they did not find any sign of foul play in Rica’s death.
“We couldn’t rule any motive for now,” he said.
The victim, a first year college student, did not leave any suicide note.
Amar said he saw Rica’s boyfriend distraught over what happened.
In 2019, IPPO recorded 79 suicide incidents. The number is 20 percent higher than the 65 incidents in 2018.
Passi City has the highest number of incidents with seven.
Cabatuan tailed Passi City, then Leon, and Santa Barbara towns.
IPPO also noted that most victims are males with age ranging from 10 to 19 years old.
In the Philippines, Republic Act 11036 (The Mental Health Law) was passed to 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.
