Suicide rates in the country and all around the world are rising. In Baguio City, the recent suicide of a prominent person strongly fueled discussions everywhere, in coffee shops and offices, at Malcolm Square, in jeepneys, etc.
The positive side of that sad occurrence might be that the phenomenon will finally get the attention it deserves from government health officials and agencies, non-government organizations, and civil society in general. We might finally internalize that the dangers of just sweeping mental health issues under the rug or ignoring these is a very dangerous attitude we all developed.
Some people would just keep to themselves, staring blankly through the window, or just wandering aimlessly, are often considered ordinary events to be ignored. “The person will come around,” those close to him might casually say, only to find out later they were too late. There is always a rope somewhere to hang oneself with. In the gardens of the Cordillera, toxic pesticides are everywhere that one can just drink. In cities, tall buildings offer ideal jump off points.
While Baguio City saw a spike in suicide cases the past months—from that of a toddler to a senior citizen’s—there was an observation elsewhere that the peak can happen after difficulties that exerted pressure on the victims. Such can be economic in nature, or the psychological effects of an epidemic or pandemic, or natural calamities. In the beginning, for instance, the instinct of people to join hands to deal with an emergency can distract bad designs of some to take their own lives.
It is when people or families individually take to their respective boats to go ashore, away from the tempest, that the full impact of the incident would be felt. When people have to squarely face their situations just by themselves, some would be able to cope, others would just throw in the towel.
Psychologists and psychiatrist would suggest various techniques to deal with mental issues during such situations, but some would just concentrate on their dire circumstances which would make things even worse.
At such a juncture, there is one solution that almost always works—sincere prayer, or better still, meditation. Meditation is highly concentrated prayer for an extended time. It goes deep down and can lighten the faces of many even in the darkest of situations.**