A senior high school student was foiled in what appeared to be a suicide attempt driven by bullying at a private school in Tagbilaran City.
The woman, 21, whose name was withheld by authorities slit her wrist while at a rocky area of the popular Cainggit Beach in Barangay Booy, Tagbilaran City but was stopped by passersby and vendors on Thursday afternoon, said village chief Yuli Ayeng.
“Kaning diri sa mga bato sa Cainggit, kanang sa right side paingon sa Family Beach didto nakit-an sa mga manindahay sa Caingget,” said Ayeng.
Bystanders and vendors in the area saw the woman break a bottle which she used to cut her wrist.
Ayeng arrived and joined in pacifying the woman who was in tears as she narrated that she had been bullied at school.
“Gamay ra ang samad, mura ra og mga panggos. Wa kaduot kaayo ang botilya… Nihilak siya. Baye man ang ni am-am niya. Hantod sa ni-abot ko ug si kagawad Telmo. So among gi sukit-sukit mao lagi kuno, na depressed siya sa bullying,” Ayeng said.
The woman has been turned over to her family. She did not however specify how she was bullied.
At least six suicide cases have been reported by police across the province since June. The Provincial Board (PB), particularly through Board Member Victor Balite, raised concern over the cases during a regular session last month.
The manifestation of Balite was referred to the Committee on Health and to the Committee on Women and Family Welfare of the PB.
Support system
In an earlier interview, psychologist and Chronicle columnist Kit Balane said that family members should show support to those in distress or those showing signs of despair or depression.
Balane cited multiple reasons that could drive individuals to take their own lives including feelings of hopelessness and mental disorders.
“Ang uban naa ni silay psychiatric illness. Ika duha, kining sense of hopelessness. Siguro naa siya’y gihambin na sakit…na para niya, kung ipadayon ni, lisod na g’yud kaayo. Di na niya maantos, so ang escape ra g’yud ang suicide,” Balane said.
“Ang lain rason pud, long-term relationship issues. Sa bana o asawa ba kaha, sa ginikanan or sa romantic relationship. Naa puy uban na involved na lain party, para pud makapanimaws,” he added.
However, Balane noted that there have been instances when people committed suicide without showing any signs of problems or possible causes for taking their own lives.
“Although mao niy uban reasons na ang taw maghikog, naa g’yuy ubang mga taw na wa ta mag-expect. Kana bang kamao sila mo-mask sa ilahang gi-bati na kalisod inside,” he said.
Balane admitted that addressing mental health issues could be costly in the Philippines.
He expressed hope that the implementation of the Mental Health Law, which would provide affordable and accessible mental health services for Filipinos, would be expedited.
“Naa na man tay balaod na gitawag og Mental Health Law, unya mag provide na siya sa mga hospital ug sa tanang barangay og mental health component na serbisyo na ihatag sa atoang gobyerno,” Balane said. “Hinaot unta na madali ni kay sa pagkakaron, sa tinuod lang, kung maghisgot ta og mental health, medyo mahal-mahal jud.“