Valerio, Stephanie Danjelle M

BSN 2D

SUICIDE CASE

Experts say the number of suicide cases and students with mental illnesses has risen drastically in the
last two years with at least one suicide referral made each day

Increased risk factors such as breakdown of relationships coupled with a decrease in protective factors
such as health lifestyles and rest can leave children increasingly exposed to mental health issues and
vulnerable to suicide

Urgent attention is needed to address the rise in mental illnesses and suicide cases among the youth

MANILA, Philippines “I would feel suffocated, then I felt like ants were crawling on my skin and on to my
head, then I wouldn’t be able to stop crying. I resorted to pinching my arms just to distract myself from
what was going on in my head,” recalled 22-year-old Bettina Jose.

“It was the only thing that reminded me that I was still breathing because I could still feel the pain in my
forearms,” she added.

Bettina was just 20 when she first attempted suicide. When the thought first entered her head, it was as
though something had snapped. No weapons involved, she said, but the compulsion to commit suicide
was intense.

That first time, she had come from an 8 am class presentation. Her mother found her 9 hours after she
left home for school, lying in the university chapel.

Nearly two years later, after much prodding and convincing from her family, Bettina sought treatment
for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. For almost two years, she battled with the anxiety attacks
on her own. They only became worse over time.

“I was really convinced I was managing them and handling them well enough but my attacks never really
went away and I would get so stuck in my head it would be much harder to do things I normally had no
problems with in the past,” Bettina said.

Sometimes the attacks would have triggers, other times they would not. But each time she ended up
with the same kind of anxiety attack.

Even with treatment, Bettina admitted having entertained suicidal thoughts since that first attempt.
Oftentimes, it was masked as having a grave and intense need to disappear.

“In the times I’ve experienced that, I’m usually pushed by an intense feeling of isolation and
desperation,” she said.

To this day, Bettina said dealing with her mental illness remains a struggle. But creating her own mental
health group, which she called Spring, gave her the courage and the community she needs.

“I’m not sure if it’s also the looming fear that it could go back to the way things were,” she said.
Like Bettina, many students struggle with mental illness. Often, they can come as unknown desperate
cries for help.

Over the last 4 years, psychiatrist Dr Dinah Nadera, would receive urgent calls and messages from
students asking to meet. Not holding regular clinic, Nadera had no idea how students got hold of her
number. But one thing she knew: they needed help and had no one else to turn to.

For the students, it was worth a chance: a message to an unknown number could lead them to someone
who could listen and maybe guide them.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/211671-suicide-cases-mental-health-illness-youth-
rising-philippines