Trigger warning: Mention of suicide
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is intensifying efforts to raise awareness and provide support for mental health, in line with the observance Suicide Prevention Month.
Dr. Katrina Camille Corpuz, Medical Officer III of the Department of Psychiatry, BGHMC during the Kapihan sa Baguio forum held recently, shared suicide is highly preventable, that is why they are trying to develop and spread awareness on this concern.
She tackled the critical need to discuss sensitive topics such as self-harm and suicide with care, providing a trigger warning for potentially challenging contents.
“Self-harm is defined as intentionally causing injury to oneself, which may or may not involve suicidal intent,” Corpuz explained.
“A suicide attempt, on the other hand, is an act of self-harm with the explicit intention to end one’s life. Both are serious and require immediate attention.”
She presented that suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29 worldwide. Global data indicates that approximately 703,000 people die by suicide each year, accounting for 1.3 percent of all deaths.
In the Philippines, suicide rates saw a significant increase, from 2,810 deaths in 2019 to 4,420 in 2020, a 57.3% increase potentially exacerbated by the isolation and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corpuz shared that the BGHMC’s Psychiatry Department recorded 259 self-harm incidents between 2023 and 2024, majority of which was classified as attempted suicide.
Suicide is influenced by a combination of factors, including individual, relational, community, and health system-related issues. Risk factors include previous suicide attempts, substance abuse, financial instability, chronic pain, family history of suicide, feelings of hopelessness, isolation, abuse, and discrimination.
“It is crucial for individuals to know they are not alone and that help is available,” Corpuz stated. “Seeking help is a sign of strength, and BGHMC is committed to providing confidential and supportive services to anyone in need.”
To combat these challenges, BGHMC is focusing on several key development areas: Enhanced Mental Health Literacy: Mental Health Services: Community Support Networks: Encouraging community involvement and support systems to provide emotional and practical assistance to those at risk.
They also collaborate with the media to ensure sensitive and accurate reporting on suicide, avoiding sensationalism that could lead to copycat incidents.
She informed that the BGHMC is actively promoting a shift in language, moving away from terms like “completed suicide” to “died by suicide,” to reduce the implication that suicide is an achievement.
“Hindi na natin ginagamit ang terms na completed at successful suicide, kasi iba iyong implication niya, parang may implication siya na it’s something to be achieved, it’s something that is parang nag checheck ka ng box, so we just use died by suicide,” Corpuz explained.
Corpuz advises individuals with risk factors. “ If you have previous strategies that worked before like hobbies, talk to your friends, or mag journal ka, puwede iyon. Religious, and cultural beliefs also help, we don’t impose religion in our consults, it also helps if you lean in your cultural beliefs.”
Mental health crisis hotlines are available for assistance – BGH hotline (09177012647) Mondays to Fridays from 8 AM to 4 PM, and the NCMH Crisis hotline (1553 or 09190571553, 09178998727, 09663514518) for round-the-clock assistance. **JDP/MAWC-PIA-CAR
