HEALTH authorities have issued the alarm bell after 112 attempted suicides have been logged at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center since October last year.
BGHMC Psychiatry Department Dr. Genna Hipolito said most of those who attempted to commit suicide because of depression were adults with a total of 76 persons belonging to the 19 to 44 age bracket.
It was learned 26 patients were between 13 to 18 years old, while the nine attempted suicide cases fall within the 45 to 49 age bracket and one suicide case committed by a 60-year old individual.
The doctor said attempted suicide is a psychiatric emergency which needs immediate medical assistance.
"This is preventable and treatable," Hipolito added while advocating for those undergoing depression to seek help medically to prevent further complications.
Last week, in celebration of National Suicide Prevention Week and National Suicide Prevention Day, the DOH launched a hotline that will provide help to people with mental health concerns.
The department partnered with the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) for the Hopeline Project, a 24/7 crisis support hotline for depression and suicide prevention.
The Hopeline Project's hotlines can be reached at (02) 804-Hope (4673), 0917 558 Hope (4673) and 2919 (toll-free number for all Globe and TM subscribers).
The World Health Organization reports over 800,000 people die by suicide each year, a number that translates to one death for every 40 seconds.
In 2012, WHO also put the Philippines in the 150th place in a list of 170 countries in terms of suicide rates.
The suicide rate in the country is 2.9 in a population of 100,000 - lower than the annual global-age standardized suicide rate of 11.4 per 100,000 population.
Three years ago, suicides in Benguet have also exceeded WHO's mortality rates.
A study done by Phoebe Ullalim- Pasiwen showed suicide cases in Kibungan, Buguias and Atok towns exceeds to the global annual mortality rate of 14.5 per 100,000 population set by the WHO from the years 1999 to 2009.
Pasiwen's study, "Prevalence of Suicide Cases in the Three Farming Municipalities along the Mountain Trail Area in the Province of Benguet," showed a total of 64 suicide deaths from the three areas from 1999-2009.
Data shows the actual suicide rate of the three identified municipalities at 35.17 per 100,000 populations in the span of 11 years.