Mental Health Experts: Empowering Hearts and Minds

Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation that some people might find disturbing. If you or someone you know needs help, you can reach out to the National Center for Mental Health 24/7 crisis hotlines: 1553 (nationwide), 0919-057-1553 (for TNT and SMART users), or  0917-899-8727 (for Globe and TM users). 

You can also contact UGAT Foundation via their Sandaline on Skype and Messenger. The links are as follows: m.me/ugat.sandaline.35 and contactUGATSandaLine@gmail.com.

A recent study from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that in 2021, suicide is the third leading cause of death around the globe among 15 to 29 year olds. Annually, about 720,000 people tragically end their own lives.

This stark reality underscores the urgent need for intervention and challenges existing narratives with support and understanding.

In 2021, the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YASF5) stated that youth who attempted suicide increased to 7.5% or about 1.5 million Filipino youth in 2021, from the previous record of 3% or 574,000 in 2013.

Furthermore, a study by Dr. Ginger Ramirez, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity U.S. + Global indicated that there were 44 suicides each month, from January to October 2020, with 23 out of 40 suicide deaths reported below the age of 30.

Behind these known statistics are stories of people often silenced by fear of being misunderstood and the ongoing stigma. More than the loss of life, it is the loss of immense potential and a person's dreams as they cling to the idea of what might have been and what could have been at every possible opportunity. There is a mother who never witnessed her child's growth, and achieving the best version of themselves. There is a sibling who remained open but felt that disclosing their burdens would only cause strife and distress. Or maybe a friend who was unable to bear the weight of their struggle until the very end.

More than raising awareness, these problems with mental health are a profound reality that necessitates compassion, sensitivity, and constructive debate toward professionals.

Alarming rate

Suicide rose in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, where nationwide lockdowns were observed. The data from the Department of Health (DOH) pointed out that there were 712 reported suicide calls in 2019; 2,821 in 2020; and 5,167 in 2021. Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported that 404 students took their own lives with 2,147 attempts during the school year 2021-2022.

Moreover, based on the information from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2021, suicide cases rose from 2,810 in 2019 to 4,420 in 2020. And even now that the Philippines is in the post-pandemic era, suicide remains an alarming concern. 

In 2023, rural health units announced that 95 people committed suicide in Eastern Visayas alone, higher as compared to 49 cases in 2022. Police stations in six provinces (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte) also recorded 204 suicide cases from January to December 2023.  

Causes, symptoms, and behaviors of people in distress

Suicide, like all other mental health conditions, is a multi-dimensional causation. It cannot be pointed out only to one cause. Currently, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) uses biological, psychological, socio-spiritual, and cultural causes,  according to Dr. Ed Michael Putiz, NCMH training coordinator.

On the other hand, symptoms and behavior of those in crisis can be assessed if there is a drastic change in behavior, sleep, eating, mood, and energy.

According to UGAT Foundation talent relations and formations manager Alynna Natividad, “If you encountered a change in behavior from being depressed or being very sad or being helpless and not in their usual self, that can be a symptom of suicide.”

Safety as priority

When handling vulnerable patients, mental health professionals prioritize safety above all. The first thing they do is to assess the level of risks or the severity of the suicidal ideation.

“What counselors mostly do or what I do is to ensure safety. We try to discuss, have they thought about it. Their history of trying to commit suicide, and if they ever plan to do so, what are the specific details of the plan? And what they are feeling now, so we were able to explore the specifics of the suicidal ideation,” Natividad stated.

“If we are able to establish that the patient is suicidal or we have the slightest hint that the patient may take his own life or hurt himself, we advise admission,” Dr. Putiz stated.

Dismantling stigma in mental health

Since 2003, suicide prevention month has been celebrated annually throughout the globe to raise awareness, give hope, and break the stigma around suicide. However, many still don’t ask for help when having suicidal thoughts.

Based on the Psychology Today website, some reasons why some don’t ask for aid are because of shame and lack of knowledge on where to get help during an emotional crisis.

“In other words, there are 2,800 people who called, but 4,400 committed suicide. There are more unreported suicide cases. So what are we doing? The pandemic of mental health is already here,” Senator Sherwin Gachalian said during the Senate hearing on the implementation of the Mental Health Act.

In addition, according to UPPI’s study, six out of 10 of those who thought of taking their own lives did not seek anyone for help. Of those who sought help, 25% sought help from friends, followed by parents at 7%, and relatives at 5%. Seeking professional help was highly unpopular, even for those who acted on their suicidal thoughts.

“Something that comes with stigma is shame and guilt. Most people do not really seek counseling services or therapy because of the shame that concludes that I have a problem, there is something wrong with me, I am weak, what will people tell me or how will people look at me when they see that I have a mental health problem,” Natividad stated.

Government response

In June 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed the first mental health legislation in the country, the Republic Act No. 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, in response to the growing concern regarding mental health. 

According to the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the law authorizes essential mental health services in barangay settings, advancement of mental health in the workplace and school, and provisions of psychosocial, neurological, and psychiatric services in all hospitals.

In December 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act, or Republic Act No. 12080. This act aims to create plantilla positions for counselors and strengthen mental health programs in schools, as mentioned on the Department of Education website.

However, like the existing Mental Health Law, there is also a concern regarding its implementation in all public schools. 

“The enactment of this law will support the well-being as well as the academic success of Filipino learners. However, the real work begins with ensuring that this law is implemented effectively across our schools, especially in those that currently lack both anti-bullying policies and mental health practitioners,” said Representative Roman Romulo, Co-Chairperson of The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

Embracing vulnerability: Preventing suicide

For people who aren’t mental health professionals, suicide may be prevented by fostering an open, and non-judgmental community. 

“So you ask, ‘What [do] you think? What do you feel?’ And in doing that, let’s use open-ended questions that are not answerable by yes or no. We avoid close-ended questions to allow the person to elaborate on what he feels and thinks,” said Dr. Putiz. 

Meanwhile, Natividad shared that the best thing individuals can offer to people experiencing suicidal ideation is to offer space, which is more on just checking in with each other and establishing rapport. 

“You’ve opened a space now, you can help them reach out to someone else who is more capable of doing so, that’s it usually, it just starts with checking and having that conversation,” she explained.

Nevertheless, there are some common misconceptions about asking people who contemplate self-harm.

“It’s actually a common misconception, but we already have established studies that would say otherwise, that when we ask them, we allow them to vent out their feelings. And also on a bigger picture, we will know more about how we can help them,” Dr. Putiz added.

Mental health, like all other healths, requires to be taken care of and prioritized. It is essential for people to handle stress healthily and have realizations in life. People can achieve that by checking with each other, fostering an open community, and connecting vulnerable people to professionals trained to help and assist them.

Ria Corocoto is a news feature writer and a marketing member of 4079 Magazine. She is a 4th year journalism student in PUP-Sta. Mesa, Manila, and a social media intern at Inquirer.net.