'One Pinoy commits suicide every day'

MANILA, Philippines - At least one Filipino commits suicide every day due to depression, according to a study by the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF), a non-profit, non-government organization that promotes an enhanced and better understanding of depression through purposive advocacy.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, however, said her department has not conducted any study on the incidence of suicide in the Philippines.

“(The Department of Social Welfare and Development) DSWD has no study on that (suicide). What I mentioned was data from NGF, quoting a study that says one Filipino commits suicide every day,” Soliman said in a text message to The STAR.

As part of the celebration of Suicide Prevention Month, the NGF, in partnership with the Quezon City government, Department of Health, DSWD, University of the Philippines, Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University, held an activity dubbed, “Walk and Light for Hope 2011,” at the UP Diliman campus yesterday.

The NGF also conducted a series of lectures on bullying and wellness at the UP’s Palma Hall.   

According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines has a relatively low suicide rate.

Based on a study conducted by WHO in 1993, an average of 2.5 males and 1.7 females among 100,000 Filipinos commit suicide.