A SENIOR high school student of a private college here hanged himself inside his boarding house after losing the P5,900 cash he was assigned to collect and keep for the payment of jersey uniforms for their school.
Police said the minor (name withheld) was found by a neighbor lifeless and still hanging inside their rented house in Max Suniel St., Barangay Carmen, Monday night.
The victim tied himself beside a door using only the sling of his bag.
According to initial investigation, the victim was having a problem at school after he lost the money intended for the payment of their jersey uniform.
There was no sign of foul play at the scene. The mother refused to have an autopsy conducted on the minor.
City Administrator and head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) Teddy Sabuga-a was saddened by the incident and vowed to strengthen its suicide prevention programs.
Currently, the CSWD has one resident psychologist who can offer consultations for free to anyone who feels depressed. But he said individuals hardly ever visit its office.
"Of course we understand that because (they are) depressed people, we do not expect them to actually go to us. So we have to make our interactions with them closer, without having to go to our office," he said.
This is why next year, Sabuga-a said the city will develop a 24/7 online counselling where people can reach out to immediately and to talk to psychologists and mental health professionals.
He said connecting online is more convenient and an initial step for the individual and the professional to connect and build trust before meeting face to face.
Sabuga-a said although there is already a nationwide suicide prevention line, he wants to make a local system and links it to the 911 emergency hotline number of the city.
"In the meantime, while we are still on the planning stage, individuals feeling depressed or parents or relatives notice suicidal tendencies of their family members, they can reach out to me through texting me with my number 09175979513," he added.
According to the World Health Organization, depression is a rising epidemic all over the world. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, equivalent to about one person every 40 seconds.
The national service 24/7 suicide prevention hotline was launched in 2016 by Natasha Goulborne Foundation called Hopeline. Hopeline may be reached at (02) 804-4673; 0917-5584673; and 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers.