Roxas City to curb alarming suicide cases

ILOILO CITY — Officials and residents in Roxas City, Capiz province are working together to curb the alarming cases of suicide. Mayor Ronnie Dadivas recently established a consultative group that created the framework for the prevention of suicide in the capital city of Capiz province. Of the 19 suicide cases recorded in Capiz from January to July, 11 deaths were from Roxas City. Data from Roxas City Health Office found that 6.2 percent per 100,000 of the population commits suicide. It is higher than the provincial average of 2.4 percent. Local youth leaders are particularly worried as suicide mostly affects teenagers or young adults facing depression or love life problems. “It is heartbreaking. We question ourselves how we can help and identify the vulnerable ones,” said Anthony De Vicente Lopez, student council president of Capiz State University (CAPSU). Paula Jane Acta, a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) village chairperson, said youth leaders must cooperate to dispense help to those at risk. (Tara Yap)