JORDAN, Guimaras – From January to October this year, the island province of Guimaras recorded 28 cases of suicide – 27 males and one female.
Personal or family problems, depression and lingering health problems were mostly cited by the victims’ families as reasons for the suicides, said Police Colonel Pablito Asmod, director of the Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO).
He, however, had no explanation why most of the suicides were committed by men.
Here is the breakdown of the suicide cases by municipality:
* Buenavista – 10
* Jordan – six
* Sibunag – six
* San Lorenzo – three
* Nueva Valencia – three
The most common form of suicide in these cases was by hanging – 25.
One victim stabbed himself, another used a gun while another electrocuted himself, said Asmod.
By age range, here’s the breakdown of victims:
* 35 to 39 years old – eight
* 25 to 29 years old – four
* 30 to 34 years old – three
* 70 years old and above – three
Believing that suicide is a mental health concern, Asmod said, the GPPO has stepped up its mental health campaign.
It already started distributing flyers in the barangays on how to avert suicides and planned to expand the information dissemination via social media and radio.
Asmod said the GPPO is also planning to open a telephone helpline and hold symposiums in villages./PN
