A 17-year-old girl allegedly took her own life inside her family’s home in Tagbilaran City on Thursday, 40 days after her father’s death.
In a report, police said that the fatality, a resident of Barangay Dao in Tagbilaran City, was found by her mother Marvelou Tapon as she was suspended from the ceiling with a blanket tied around her neck.
Tapon immediately alerted authorities prompting the TaRSIER 117 to deploy a unit at around 7 p.m. A nurse tried to perform CPR on the victim but she was unresponsive.
According to Staff Sgt. Alvin Torrente of the Tagbilaran City Police Station, they found inside the girl’s room a suicide note which indicated that she was still depressed over her father’s death.
The family marked the 40th day since the death of their patriarch when the victim allegedly took her own life.
Tapon also admitted to having reprimanded her daughter prior to her suicide.
Authorities including the attending health officer continued their investigation and were yet to rule out foul play as of Thursday night.
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.“ (wm)