By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
The past few days we have heard of teenage suicides in our midst. The causes are varied as rumored and embellished. But there is one glaring fact. Some suicides happened and we can only sympathize or commiserate and condole with the bereaved families. It is so painful to lose a family member who is full of promise or possibilities. Then the next moment, he is gone.
Suicidal tendencies do not just happen overnight. The signs usually manifest long before things come to a head. Family members usually had become aware of these long before that. Had they been objective about the situation, professional help could have been sought. But even that is often wrongly thought to be embarrassing to the family. So we deny or hide or cover up things until it is too late for a remedial action. Or until we are sorry.
One painful lesson is for us to be objective about our family history. Were there suicide cases in the past? Are there signs of the inclination or even just a remote possibility of it happening again? Any small sign should not be swept under the rug. There are professionals around who can help.
With objectivity, preventive measures can be implemented. These usually fall under the phrase “maintaining mental health.” Everybody needs these. Those who are arrogant to the extent of claiming they don’t need these might turn out to be next victims, or those close to them.
There is a Philippine Mental Health Association chapter in Baguio City. Their office is located on the Marcos Highway side of BGH Medical Center. Their members, as far as I know, are professionals on the matter. They should be ready to help.
At certain times of the year, they even conduct seminars for the benefit of the public. And you do not have to be crazy to join. You also need not be crazy to seek their help.
We all endure day to day stresses in life. In varied ways, we cope. Some could go on without doing crazy things. Others do all sorts of things which we label as normal but are actually craziness of some sort. Others just bottle things up until they manifest physically or mentally. Physical manifestations can be “high blood” or hypertension. In others, these are shown by their “screwed up” lives or relationships. Still others literally go crazy.
Then there are the substances which we take to deal with our craziness. Too much coffee, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, other hallucinatory things like drugs, etc. etc.
One time I was at BGH for something I forgot when I met some colleagues in the media who informed me there was going to be a press con at the Philippine Mental Health Office. So I walked over and joined in.
The presscon (usually aired on TV and radio) was on mental health and it was good. I contributed my ten cents worth about how I try to assure my mental health.
I try to meditate the Ananda Marga Yoga way every morning and, if possible, also in the evening. One of the psychiatrists or psychologists conducting the presscon commented in reaction that it is one of the best ways to assure mental health.
Then there is this popular Igorot doctor in social media, an SLU alumnus, who said that one way of combating “high blood” is regular meditation, among other things or ways.
So there. Take it from the experts.**
