A multi-sectoral group will be drafting an action plan to address the rising incidence of suicide in Bohol.

This is an offshoot of the meeting on September 12 led by the Provincial Health Office.

To gather inputs, the PHO convened psychiatrists, psychologists, members of the clergy, academe, representatives of the business sector, officials of the Department of Education, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, police officers, volunteers, and artists from the Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) of the Capitol.

During the meeting on Thursday last week, representatives of the concerned sectors mapped out proactive strategies to address the alarming cases of suicide.

The data on suicide cases from 2016 to 2019 recorded at the Bohol Police Provincial Office was also presented during the meeting.

The last straw came in August when the Diocese of Tagbilaran issued an Obligatory Prayer (Oratio Imperata) to save the depressed ones from suicidal tendencies.

Three of the six cases of suicide reported in August occurred in just a span of two days.

Four suicide cases were also reported in July.

In mapping the incidents of suicide, the common reasons were problems in school and being scolded by parents. Ranking next are poverty, family problem, rejection, and failed romantic relationships.

It was also noted that Filipinos rarely open up about depression.

Interventions practiced in other countries were also cited as a reference in crafting the action plan.

Bishop Abet Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran earlier called on the people to care for each other and help watch for signs of depression and seek help.

Individuals undergoing depression must be encouraged to seek professional help from experts, he added.

If these individuals would refuse, the encouragement should continue and they should not be left alone.

In his Oratio Imperata issued earlier, Bishop Uy appealed for the power of the Almighty to stop the spread of suicidal tendencies among depressed individuals and save mankind from this difficulty.

Bishop Uy believes that praying for God’s mercy and enlightenment can help a lot in making individuals strong enough to face their problems and shun away from the tendency to give up.

He said people can come together and strengthen their trust in God’s love and mercy.

The Bishop also appealed for mercy for the suicide victims, those who had lost hope and become depressed to the extent of taking their own lives.

This month, only one case of suicide was reported.

Last month, it was the successiom of the occurrence of suicide that alarmed the public, where three of the cases happened in just two days.

These were reported at the police stations of Garcia-Hernandez, Sikatuna, and Loon.

On August 19, the suicide of a 19-year-old resident of barangay West Poblacion in Garcia-Hernandez was reported.

The incident in barangay Catagbcan, Loon involved a 47-year-old drug surrenderer who was found dead inside his room, sitting with a rope around his neck which other end tied to the door.

In barangay Badiang in Sikatuna, the victim was an 80-year-old man who was found hanging by a rope tied to a coconut tree.

In July, the last suicide victim was a teacher in a university in Tagbilaran who is also a barangay kagawad in Taguihon, Baclayon.

The victim was found dead inside his room at around 9 a.m. on July 30.

He hanged himself using a rope.

Investigators learned that he had been separated from his wife.

Less than a week earlier, a 10-year old boy also hanged himself using a belt.

The incident happened on July 25 in barangay San Jose, Talibon.

Investigators learned that the boy was scolded by his mother at noontime on that day for failing to do her orders.

A neighbor said the boy’s mother attempted to beat him but he managed to run as his mother shouted at him, saying she would kill him if she catches him.

When the boy returned home, the mother resumed scolding him.

On July 3, the neighborhood at Marcela Homes in barangay Tabalong, Dauis were shocked to learn about the suicide of a 15-year-old boy.

The victim was found by his father at around 5 p.m. that day, hanging inside his room.

The victim hanged himself using a rope while he was alone in their house.

The father admitted that he had scolded the victim in the morning of that day for not attending classes and staying home instead.