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Advocates Philippines
Senator Mark Villar Files Bill On Youth Suicide Prevention
Photo credit: Senate PH
Senator Mark Villar expressed his deep concern about the alarming rise in cases of suicide among the younger population.
Recent data from the Department of Education (DepEd) revealed that 404 students tragically lost their lives to suicide during the academic year 2021-2022, with an additional 2,147 students attempting to take their own lives during the same period.
"Nakakabahala po ang mga kaso ng suicide sa ating mga kabataan recently. The increasing number of suicide and suicide attempts among Filipino youth merits our intervention as we recognize that the challenges and mental health concerns of our youth brought about by the pandemic has been heightened by the rapid changes of the post-pandemic world to which they are expected to adapt," Villar emphasized.
In response to this pressing issue, the Senator has introduced Senate Bill No. 1669, titled the "Act to Provide Early Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Expansion." The proposed legislation aims to institutionalize suicide intervention throughout the entire country by establishing life planning education programs for Filipino youths.
The bill also seeks to provide necessary training and raise awareness among stakeholders within school premises, as well as mandate the employment of psychologists in every school to offer early intervention to students facing mental health challenges.
"Kailangan po nating matutukan ang kalagayan ng mental health ng ating mga kabataan, lalo na ngayon na dumarami ang kaso ng mga estudyante who are committing suicide. Through this bill, we are going to provide our youth with the necessary intervening methods like counseling and mental health improvement sessions that will help them," Villar added.
Villar pointed to a recent tragedy involving a 7th-grade high school student from Rizal Technological University who took his own life by jumping off a school building. While the official cause of the incident remains undisclosed to the public, this is the second case in recent years where a student from the same university has committed suicide. The other case involved a college freshman who jumped from a mall's higher floor in 2016.
"Ako po ay lubos na nakikiramay sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ni Yuwan. His case touches my heart gravely as a father to my own child who is almost at the same age as him. Bilang senador, I am going to do my best to pass this youth suicide prevention bill so we can help our youth deal with their mental health concerns and prevent further cases of suicide that will claim more young lives," Villar said.
The proposed bill has already been referred to the appropriate Senate committee.
Recent data from the Department of Education (DepEd) revealed that 404 students tragically lost their lives to suicide during the academic year 2021-2022, with an additional 2,147 students attempting to take their own lives during the same period.
"Nakakabahala po ang mga kaso ng suicide sa ating mga kabataan recently. The increasing number of suicide and suicide attempts among Filipino youth merits our intervention as we recognize that the challenges and mental health concerns of our youth brought about by the pandemic has been heightened by the rapid changes of the post-pandemic world to which they are expected to adapt," Villar emphasized.
In response to this pressing issue, the Senator has introduced Senate Bill No. 1669, titled the "Act to Provide Early Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Expansion." The proposed legislation aims to institutionalize suicide intervention throughout the entire country by establishing life planning education programs for Filipino youths.
The bill also seeks to provide necessary training and raise awareness among stakeholders within school premises, as well as mandate the employment of psychologists in every school to offer early intervention to students facing mental health challenges.
"Kailangan po nating matutukan ang kalagayan ng mental health ng ating mga kabataan, lalo na ngayon na dumarami ang kaso ng mga estudyante who are committing suicide. Through this bill, we are going to provide our youth with the necessary intervening methods like counseling and mental health improvement sessions that will help them," Villar added.
Villar pointed to a recent tragedy involving a 7th-grade high school student from Rizal Technological University who took his own life by jumping off a school building. While the official cause of the incident remains undisclosed to the public, this is the second case in recent years where a student from the same university has committed suicide. The other case involved a college freshman who jumped from a mall's higher floor in 2016.
"Ako po ay lubos na nakikiramay sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ni Yuwan. His case touches my heart gravely as a father to my own child who is almost at the same age as him. Bilang senador, I am going to do my best to pass this youth suicide prevention bill so we can help our youth deal with their mental health concerns and prevent further cases of suicide that will claim more young lives," Villar said.
The proposed bill has already been referred to the appropriate Senate committee.
Oct 24, 2023
