SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

“Do not open this… nakaka-depress,” ang habilin ng kasama ko sa isang estasyon sa radio, matapos niyang i-forward sa akin ang napabalitang suicide ng isang local musician. Dahil inakala kong fake news, ay hindi ko nga binuksan. Kinabukasan ay kumalat sa media ang naturang footage at sumunod ang pakiusap ng DOH na huwag nang i-share ang FB live ng kaniyang pagpapatiwakal. OMG.

“Here I go,” sabi ng musikero sa kanyang pagtalon sa itaas ng isang condominium sa Vito Cruz, Maynila. Matapos maghabilin ay tumalon siya at kitang-kita habang nahuhulog mula sa itaas ng building. Malamang ay hawak niya ang mobile phone na kanyang ginamit sa live streaming, kaya’t habang bumabagsak pababa ay nakikita pa rin nang live.

Kasalukuyang nabura na ang nasabing FB Live at humiling ang kaniyang pamilya ng katahimikan habang sila ay nagluluksa.

SUICIDE REASONS

What drives a person to commit suicide? What is it that enables a person to have the courage enough to swallow an entire bottle of pills, ingest poison, push the chair away to dangle from a rope tied to the ceiling, or jump from a building? In general, people do not attempt suicide solely because of pain, it is because they don’t believe there is a reason to live and the world would be better off without them.

Ayon sa psychologists, narito ang madalas na dahilan ng pagpapatiwakal:

• Depression – They feel hopeless. The pain of existence becomes too much to bear. Often people suffer with it silently, planning suicide without anyone ever knowing.
• Psychotic – They hear inner voices which command them to destroy themselves. The worldwide incidence of schizophrenia is 1% and often strikes otherwise healthy, successful individuals.
• Impulsive – Often related to drugs and alcohol, some people become impulsive and attempt to end their own lives. Once sobered and calmed, these people usually feel ashamed.
• Crying out for help – These people don’t usually want to die but do want to alert those around them that something is wrong. They use suicidal attempts to take revenge on someone.
• Terminal illness – They often look at their choice to commit suicide as a way to shorten a dying that will happen regardless.
• Guilt – They made a mistake and are not brave enough to face the consequences.

WARNING SIGNS

May mga senyales ang isang taong lubhang malungkot kung ito ay handang magpakamatay. Narito ang ilan:

• Talking about suicide, dying or self-harm.
• Preoccupied with death, like writing poems or stories about death.
• Having no hope for the future.
• Feeling trapped and hopeless.
• Feelings of worthlessness, self-hatred, guilt or shame.
• Saying they feel like a burden to others.
• Getting their affairs in order by drawing up a will or giving away valued possessions.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.
• Making unexpected visits to friends and family, and saying goodbye

WHAT NOT TO SAY

• Suicide is selfish. – This inspires more guilt.
• Suicide is cowardly. – This inspires shame.
• You don’t mean that. – This is a way of dismissing their feelings.
• Other people have problems worse than you. – This evokes comparison.
• You will go to hell if you commit suicide. – They may already be angry at their creator.

THINGS TO SAY

• I’m so glad you told me. – It means you encourage discussion.
• I’m sad you’re hurting. – This is a simple expression of empathy.
• What’s going on? – Really listen to their story. Do not interrupt.
• When do you think you’ll act on this? – This will give you time to ask for assistance.
• How? – This will help you prevent the act.
• Help is available. – Dial ‘Hopeline’ at (02) 804 4673 or 0917 558 4673. Or the Philippine Suicide Hotlines (02) 896 9191, 0917 854 9191.
• What can I do to help? – This is to make clear that you are available.
• I care about you. – This help nurture a sense of connection.

EPEKTO SA PAMILYA

• Extreme guilt for not preventing the suicide.
• Failure because a person they loved felt unloved.
• Anger or resentment at the person who committed suicide.
• Confusion.
• Distress over unresolved issues.
• Anger toward those perceived to have contributed to the suicide
• Shock associated with facing the traumatic event.
• Difficulty accepting that the death was by suicide.
• Difficulty making sense of the suicide.

SUICIDE SA PINAS

Every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide, ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO). Taon-taon, halos 800,000 katao ang nagsubok na magpakamatay at nagtatagumpay.

Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries. In fact, over 79% of suicides occurred in low and middle-income countries.

The Philippines has suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women. Suicides come in various forms. It is estimated that around 20% of suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, usually in low and middle-income countries. Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms.

In the Philippines, a study showed that the methods of committing suicide included shooting oneself, 40%; hanging, 30%; poisoning, 16%; and jumping from high places, 13%.  In 73% of the reported cases, suicide was committed in their own homes.

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