BAGUIO General Hospital psychiatrist Jovy Anne Tangalin said last April 2 that they have monitored two cases of pregnant women who ingested 20 to 30 paracetamol tablets to commit suicide.
“It is true we really have many incidents in BGH,” said Tangalin.
During a depression and suicide prevention campaign at La Trinidad Municipal Building, Tangalin added that 12 percent of adolescents suffer from depressive disorders.
Suicide occurs five times higher in boys than in girls. Males utilizing firearms or hang themselves and females commonly ingest poison or overdose.
Tangalin said profiles of adolescents who commit suicide are composed of higher achievers and perfectionists.
“It’s because of the high expectations from other and themselves, once frustration comes in they can no longer handle it.”
Tangalin said anyone is at risk of committing suicide.
“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” she said.
Meanwhile, Benguet State University Office of Extension Services director Ruth Sidchogan shared a five-year case study conducted in one farming community in Northern Luzon.
The study, titled Cultural Context of Pesticide Injestion in Cordillera, noted death by ingestion of pesticide.
Sidchogan said farmers now use the expression “agas ti mula, agas ti tao” (Medicine for plants, medicine for people”).
World Health Organization (WHO) data from 2017 recorded adolescents and students aged 13-15 years old considered attempting suicide.
In the Philippines, the suicide rate is 3.8 per hundred thousand population.
“We need to fight the stigma. Not all are crazy when they visit a psychiatrist. Some are depressed, has anxiety disorder, children with intellectual disability,” she said.
Tangalin emphasized the important role of suicide awareness, and upon seeing the warning signs of suicide it is advisable to consult doctors for proper medication.
Suicide warning signs include: talking, writing or joking about suicide, giving away prized possessions, making final arrangements, depressive symptoms, sudden and unexplained recovery from profound depression, and marked feelings of hopelessness.
The presence of suicide plan is significant to change of behavior, previous suicide attempts, significant loss and drug or alcohol abuse.