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| Residents visiting Burnham Park during its reopening.(Photo from CEPMO Assistant Department Head Rhenan Diwas via Baguio Public Information Office / Facebook) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] BAGUIO CITY: The Baguio City Health Services Office will expand its mental health program in response to rising reports of suicide and self-harm in 2021. The program includes free assistance to individuals seeking consultations, basic medications, and other interventions. This is on top of the health and wellness program information-education-communication (IEC) strategies regularly conducted for the public, PhilStar reported.
As part of the strategies on the early detection of mental health issues, the CHSO made available a helpline (09190696361) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beyond those hours, people can also call the National Center for Mental Health 24/7 hotlines: 09178998727; 09663514518; 09086392672. The CHSO recorded a rise in suicides last year, with males making up most of those who died. Dr. Rowena Galpo, city health services officer, said their mental health program recorded a total of 37 suicide incidents involving 32 males and five females. Nurse Ricky Ducas, the mental health responder, and coordinator of the program, said this was a 23-percent rise from 30 cases in 2020.
"The increase in our suicide cases is alarming and the upturn in male suicide mostly belonging to the young adult age group is staggering," he said. Ducas said young adults are among the most vulnerable to suicide as their developmental milestones on love and belonging are rooted in their peers and the community.
