The recent resolution of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to establish mental health offices in state universities and colleges is a welcome move.
Estrada has said that he filed the resolution in the wake of “rising incidence” of Filipino students who are struggling with mental health issues. His proposed mental health offices are not only for students. They are also open to teaching and non-teaching personnel who need support and counseling.
Suicides are preventable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). And suicides must be prevented by helping people dealing with mental health concerns.
If suicides are not prevented, several communities could be in a mess. The WHO said that “suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues, communities and societies.”
The 2018 article written by Elana Premack Sandler for the American nonprofit organization National Alliance on Mental Illness (Nami) describes suicide’s ripple effect. “When someone dies by suicide, the people impacted most dramatically are those closest to the person who died: family, friends, co-workers, classmates. As a result, the people who interacted regularly with the individual who ended their life will miss the physical presence of that person and typically feel the loss most intimately,” read a part of Sandler’s article.
Sandler’s article further states that the “people who are members of an individual’s community, such as members of a faith community; teachers, staff and other students in a school; or service providers, may also be affected by a suicide.”
“Some of these people may feel the impact in a way that feels similar to those closest to the person who has died. In a situation where the individual has struggled openly with mental health concerns, those who knew of the struggle will feel the pain of the loss—likely wondering if they could have done more,” wrote Sandler, adding that “people who may not have even personally known the individual who died can also be impacted. Like emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, clergy and others who respond and provide support to the family and community, either at the time of death or afterward.”
Estrada’s resolution cited the WHO report on adolescent mental health, which reveals that suicide is now the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents aged 11 to 29. And suicides and suicide attempts involving teenagers are common in the Philippines.
This problem highlights the urgency for a comprehensive approach to mental health support for students in the country.
It is important to note that mental health issues are a growing concern not just in the Philippines, but also globally. Mental health problems can have serious consequences, including decreased academic performance and a reduced quality of life. These issues must not be stigmatized, but rather recognized and addressed in a comprehensive manner.
Estrada’s resolution is a step in the right direction towards addressing the growing concern of mental health issues among students in the Philippines. These mental health offices, if realized, can provide critical support and resources to students and help create a culture of understanding and compassion.