33 SUICIDES IN R9 IN 10 MONTHS

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Some 33 persons from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), most of them from this coastal metropolis, committed suicide from February to November 2019.

Zamboanga City Police spokesman Capt. Edwin Duco reported by month the number of local suicide victims, with the months of October and November having the highest suicide rate with seven and six cases, respectively. No suicide was reported in January.

According to Duco, there were two cases each in February, March, July, and September; five cases each in April and May; and one case each in June and August.

Unconfirmed reports claimed that there were three more suicide cases in the same period committed by residents of adjacent Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.

Local psychologist Sheila Aduviso, connected with a city-based state university, said, “[M]ore than 90 percent of suicide victims are frequently attributed to mental health problem.”

Aduviso also said based on studies, “the male population has the highest number of complete suicide compared to their female counterpart who appear to think more carefully before attempting to end their life.”

The psychologist also noted the increasing worldwide phenomenon of “suicide contagion.”

Aduviso said if some individuals and the media frequently post on social media photos of those who kill themselves, “their move could influence some persons suffering from mental health concerns to depression and finally resort them to taking their own lives.”

She appealed to the public and media members “to be responsible and reliable in what they post on social media in connection with suicide incidents so as not to encourage others to follow.

“Suicide is not a laughing matter. Hence, let us all help prevent suicide,” she said.