Relational problems and all forms of bullying are among the reasons people think of and commit suicide.
This is what Dr. Renato Obra, chief of the center for behavioral sciences of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, said during a forum on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019.
He also said Cebu is leading in terms of the number of suicide cases in the country.
“Although we do not have a research on it yet, but I don’t know what’s here in Cebu that, so far, during our meeting and conference in Manila, Cebu has the highest incidents of suicide nationwide, and the most common site is the Mactan bridge,” he said, without providing figures.
The forum was part of the discussions ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, which will be celebrated on Sept. 10.
Obra said that in the Philippines, there is a rapid rise in suicide attempts in the 15 to 24 age group, with males having the highest number of completed suicide.
The peak age for suicide among men is 45 years old, while the peak age for women is 65 years old.
Obra also said the signs and symptoms that show a person may have suicidal tendencies are the exhibition of a depressed mood, deteriorating hygiene and/or grooming, lower concentration and focus, irritability, guilt feelings, and verbalizing self harm.
“Health care providers, parents, including the school teachers must also be aware of parasuicide tendencies or those persons who have already tried harming themselves,” he said.
On Aug. 18, a 16-year-old male athlete was found floating in the waters off Cabahug shipyard in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City. The victim had jumped off the Marcelo Fernan Bridge at around 2 a.m. on Aug. 17.
Sixteen hours later, another 16-year-old girl was saved by the police from jumping off the same bridge.
In a text message to Superbalita Cebu, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Jonathan Abella said the girl was depressed after having been scolded several times by her grandparents.
Three days later, a 28-year-old woman also tried to take her own life, but the MCPO saw her and persuaded her not to jump off the bridge.
In Central Visayas, a 24/7 call-based hotline for suicide prevention and emotional crisis intervention was established in Cebu in August 2015.
Since then, it has received 2,774 calls as of May 2019.
Some 1,324 came from female callers, while 681 calls came from males.
Jane (real name withheld), one of the Tawag Paglaum-Centro Bisaya responders, said among the reasons callers give involve personal crises such as panic attacks and anxiety.
“Usually, we receive calls from afternoon to early evening, but these are usually people with problems with their families. The calls which involve suicidal attempts usually come late in the evening. Also, now, we do not only receive calls from Cebu. Some of them come from Albay, Pangasinan, Zamboanga and General Santos,” she said.
Tawag Paglaum-Centro Bisaya may be reached through numbers 0939-937-5433 and 0939-936-5433.
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City mayor Junard Chan has ordered Police Colonel Clarito Baja to have the two bridges manned 24 hours to prevent potential suicides. (WBS, FVQ OF SUPERBALITA CEBU)