IN MY tenth year as a columnist for SunStar Baguio, I have basically written much about what consumers need to know to get the best value for their money, including rights as a citizen, how to help protect our environment, conserve heritage sites and how not to fall prey to scammers and the likes.
As I continue to learn and rationalize why certain unthinkable things happen, my comprehension as to why people commit suicide often puts me in a limbo why it happens just like that. I do not claim any expertise at all on the matter and I am as curious as anyone as to why depression, loss of self-worth and failures can lead to sacrificing one's self. Well, there were historic suicide bombing and hara-kiri incidents in the past but it happened in wartime but present incidents really need full understanding.
Recently in Baguio and elsewhere in neighboring towns, we came across social media posts and broadcast releases on recurring suicide incidents.
In Baguio City alone, there were 112 suicides recorded due to depression since 2018 and these statistics were collated in two years. Fellow Outstanding Citizens of Baguio awardee Raquel Versoza, a stalwart advocate for the awareness of depression, said during one of her interviews that around 3.3 million Filipinos in the country have depression or any form of mental illness. She also opined that because of the stigma attached to suicides, there may be more but were not recorded. During an interview with this paper, Versoza said that these researches on mental health particularly for Baguio City does not specify mental disorder but it was suicide because of depression.
Why am I writing about the subject? I am quite alarmed because another incident recently happened not far from our place in Baguio and it also makes me think whether the incident stemmed from the problems caused by the pandemic like the lockdowns, collapse of business, travel restrictions and the likes including high payables with low or no income.
In June last year, local papers reported that from the average of two suicide cases monthly in 2018, the number doubled to fourth suicide cases monthly in 2019, alarming authorities over the worsening depression among the residents of the city. Dr. Donnabel Tubera, medical officer of the City Health Services Office, was quoted as saying that most of the mode of suicide by the victims is allegedly hanging based on the results of the post-mortem done on the bodies of the suspected suicide victims.
When someone commits suicide, people readily opine that the person should not have done so as there are possible solutions to problems and time may also heal whatever circumstances are at hand. I definitely agree that suicide is not the only option for people who are in deep trouble whether mentally, socially, emotionally, physically or financially. I often heard people saying or commenting on the presence of a guiding light, spiritual undertaking and submission to the Lord Almighty and there is also a mention of forgiveness to one's tormentor and encouragement to be strong and firm amidst all the troubles.
In social media, the matter of suicides or suicidal tendencies often gives us pictures or scenarios of why people resort to this act. Talks of lost love interest, dishonesty, betrayal, loss of self-esteem to a point where people fake their identity because accordingly, this world refuses to accept who they really are.
I also read about make-believe stories where some earn a lot of money and post pictures on social media about the happy moments that never really existed. There are also talks about society's diverse sexualities and discriminations attached to it and a lot more that suggests that these are part of being human and we should be patient, less egoistic, kind and tolerant. Opinion makers also say that people need to be more humane, less religious but more courageous to speak the truth, without harboring the fear of losing someone.
At this point in time, especially of the pandemic, I believe we need more kindness to ourselves and everyone. Let us try to understand and stop the suicides happening around the world because there are solutions to problems even if it is just a smile or a wink that may not be verbal at all.
I came across a social media page and its profile image shows a piece of cut paper with a note held by a finger and it reads "She can paint a pretty picture but this story has a twist. Her brush is her razor and her canvas is her wrist."
I am fond of reading allegories but this one made me imagine things that I certainly do not want to depict in my canvass as an artist. I believe that you and I can do something to people with suicidal tendencies or those contemplating ending their lives by hanging or slashing their wrists. By simple acts like listening, sending a message, sharing stories and accepting people for what they really are, I believe are simple things that can mean a lot.
For those who want to share their related stories, I appreciate receiving your message at artibaldo@yahoo.com. Let's make every day World Suicide Prevention Day.