BAUTISTA, Stella Maris R.

Eng 1 THX2

2013 – 05652 Ms. Maxine Rafaella C. Rodriguez

A Silent Cry

THESIS STATEMENT: The rise in depression and suicide rates in Filipino Youth calls to question the

effectiveness of RA 11036 (Mental Health Act).

I. There is a rise in depression and youth suicide rates in the Philippines.

II. There are factors that contribute to depression.

A. Social media should not hinder personal relationships.

B. Teenagers should not be exposed to age sensitive information.

III. There is a Philippine Mental Health Act passed last 2018.

A. The provisions that are already implemented should be checked for effectiveness.

B. The remaining provisions should be implemented.

 The chill of the wind prickles your skin as a truck passes on the bridge. You watch as the

traffic light turns red. You start to cross the street. As you draw near, you hear the Pasig River gurgling and

slushing, drowning the snores and dreams of those who lay sleeping. Your heart is thumping louder by the

second as you walk closer to the rail. Jump! Says the demon that whispers your insecurities. Jump! Says

the demon that caters to your despair. Jump! Says the demon that shows you that the world will never be

the home that you longed it to be. Jump! JUMP! JU…

Just like that, another one succumbed to the pain.

According to the recently updated fact sheet of the World Health Organization, every year,

approximately 800,000 people purposely take their own life. There are many more individuals that have

had suicide attempts that were unreported. “Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 years

old” (WHO). In the Philippines, according to the National Poison Management and Control Center of the

Philippine General Hospital, from their record since 2010, 16% of the total reported suicide cases that

involved poisoning were from the youth, aged 10-19 years old. “At least one per day would come in the

emergency room for a suicide attempt, one young person,” said Dr Constantine Chua, chief resident of the

Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in an interview with

Rappler.

Suicide is often linked with mental health illnesses, specifically, depression. Aside from the

usual factors that contribute to depression such as genetics, abuse, be it in any form (physical, mental,

emotional, sexual, or substance), personal conflicts or conflicts with others, loss of a loved one, and other

personal problems, there is also the addition factors brought about by social media and ease of access in

information.

The prevalent use of social media by the teenagers decreases the need for face to face

communication (Twenge, et al.). Experts argue that electronic communication lacks the emotional closeness

that is found in face to face communication (Tomacruz). The human brain has evolved under conditions of
close personal interactions which provides an overlap of multiple sensations that indulges the visual,

olfactory, physical, and auditory senses (Baumeister, et al.). A disruption or lack of these conditions may

pose risks in the stability of an individual’s mental health.

Social media also brings about a new scale in measuring a person’s dignity. Self-worth is often

associated with the number of reactions in one’s Facebook status or Instagram post. The need to fit in and

stand out causes teenagers to portray a different identity. It serves as a coping mechanism to mask their

insecurities and inhibitions. The need for a confidant arises, someone to share their worries and concerns,

and this does not come easy due to the lack of deep personal relationships.

With the ease of access in information, teenagers are more exposed to traumatic events in

which the older generations might have encountered at a later stage (Tomacruz). The MTRCB’s program

advisory deems if a TV show is age appropriate for viewing. It categorizes sensitive content into six sub-

units: strong themes, language, violence, sexual content, horror and display of drug use. Sensitive

information online, such as hostage taking scenarios, massacres, abuse, etc., should also come with a

warning. The youth’s exposure to these kinds of materials presents a world that is cynic and malicious.

Without proper guidance the youth may interpret this to be the norm. They’re being subjected to a more

chaotic world. This instills the feeling of hopelessness that the circumstances will improve.

To address the rising number of people with mental health conditions, Republic Act No. 11036

(Mental Health Act) was passed last June 21, 2018. This law establishes a National Mental Health Policy

that protects the rights of people with mental health conditions, builds and improves health care facilities

to attend to the needs of the said patients, and educates and promotes mental health awareness to the masses

(Hontiveros). There are mental health institutions such as the National Center for Mental Health located in

Mandaluyong City. Major public and private hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital, Manila Doctors

Hospital, and The Medical City have their own psychiatric department to take care of mentally ill patients.

There are also two suicide prevention hotlines that can be used by people seeking immediate assistance, the

Natasha Goulbourn Foundation and the Manila Lifeline Center offers 24/7 life counselors that were
intensively trained by psychologists to handle suicide prevention cases and answer questions regarding

mental health.

Other provisions that are still not apparent includes the community based mental health care

facility that addresses the immediate needs and questions of the patients that are living in rural areas. It is

also necessary to open up hospitals and mental health institutions in other major cities in the Philippines,

specifically in Visayas and Mindanao since most of the institutions and hospitals mentioned above are

located in the National Capital Region. Mental health awareness should also be included in the K-12

curriculum. The students need to be exposed to the signs and symptoms of mental health illnesses so that

they can ask for help when they observe it on themselves. Peer and support groups within the schools should

also be established to foster long-term caring relationships, increase their sense of belongingness and lessen

their loneliness.

As the World Suicide Prevention Day is celebrated every 10th of September, this calls for the

active participation of all citizens in promoting awareness that suicide can be prevented. The Mental Health

Act provides sufficient programs on dealing with depression and suicide prevention. This law was signed

after being held up in Congress for almost 20 years, and it goes to show that the stigma that surround mental

health has lessened. With proper allocation of budget and thorough execution of the policies, the Philippines

is ready to battle mental health illnesses head on.

 Works Cited List

Baumeister, Roy F., and Mark R. Leary. “The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a

Fundamental Human Motivation.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 117, no. 3, 1 June 1995, pp. 497–529.,

doi:10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497. “Press Release - Villanueva Alarmed over Increasing Suicide Rates

among Filipino Youth.” Latest News, Senate of the Philippines,

https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2016/1124_villanueva1.asp.

Hontiveros, Ana Theresia N., et al. “Republic Act No. 11036.” Republic Act No. 11036,

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2018/ra_11036_2018.html.

“Suicide.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 2 Sept. 2019, https://www.who.int/news-

room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide.

Tomacruz, Sofia. “A Cry for Help: Mental Illness, Suicide Cases Rising among Youth.” Rappler, 11 Sept.

2018, https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/211671-suicide-cases-mental-health-illness-youth-

rising-philippines.

Twenge, Jean M., et al. “Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates

Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen, 2018.” SAGE Journals,

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2167702617723376.