ILOILO City – A 20-year-old female student jumped from the second floor of a mall’s parking building on Ledesma Street, Barangay Osmeña, City Proper yesterday morning.
She survived the fall but broke both her legs when she landed on the concrete street around 8:30 a.m.
The university student was a resident of Tapiz, Capiz. She was brought to St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo.
According to Police Station 1 chief, Police Captain Victor Basinillo, security guards of the mall failed to spot the young woman sneaking into the parking building.
The student’s family declined to give a statement to the police on what could have driven her to try to kill herself.
What’s fuelling suicides, most especially among young people?
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas urged teachers and parents to be more perceptive of their wards’ needs.
The World Heal Organization (WHO) considers suicide “a serious public health problem” but preventable with timely, evidence-based interventions.
“Let us do everything we can to save these youngsters,” said DepEd regional information officer Dr. Lea Belleza recently.
One young life lost is one too many, lamented Belleza.
“Our young people are at crossroads. They need guidance,” said Belleza as she stressed the importance of creating a caring, happy atmosphere in schools. “Sa ila panimalay ginaakigan na sila, pag abot sa school akigan pa gid sila. It shouldn’t be like that.”
Reach out to students, especially those showing odd behavior, Belleza urged teachers.
Schools should be places where there is compassionate open communication between teachers and students, she added.
Even students should be encouraged to alert teachers should they notice something unusual with their classmates, Belleza said.
She also stressed the importance of schools strengthening their campaign against bullying, and the inclusion of topics such as mental health in lessons./PN
