THE Mandaue City College (MCC) held a suicide prevention symposium at the New Mandaue City Public Market’s conference hall on Oct. 29, 2019.
Around 300 students from MCC’s senior high school and college departments attended the event, which started at 1 p.m. and ended at 5 p.m.
MCC partnered with its Student Affairs and Services Office and the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) for the event.
Students listened to the lecture of Zena B. Bernardo, Project Manager for Mental Health of the Youth Enablers Society.
She opened the discussion by telling the students that it was not easy losing her father right after her college graduation due to his depression.
Her father’s suicide opened her eyes to the importance of suicide prevention, saying she did not want other people to die the way her father did.
Bernardo, who hails from Makati City, informed the students about the five steps in helping persons in emotional pain: ask them, keep them safe, be there with them, help them connect and stay connected with them.
MCC College of Business Administration Dean Lilibeth P. Mayol closed the symposium by telling the students that “God is always there for you because you are loved and we are all special to Him so there’s no reason to give up.
P/Maj. Mercy Villaro of the MCPO thanked MCC for welcoming her in the activity. She said peace officers’ duty is to aid the students not to commit suicide.
Villaro suggested that if the students need someone to talk to, they can call hopelines.
If students need advice from the police, Villaro said they are willing to help and listen to their concerns.
(Tawag Paglaum Centro Bisaya, formerly known as Hopeline Cebu, can be contacted if you need someone to listen or a referral to professionals who can help you: 0939-937-5433, 0939-936-5433, 0927-654-1629.) (Marvin G. Quilaquil)