Psych assessments sought for students

MANILA, Philippines - House Assistant Majority Leader and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles yesterday urged educational institutions to implement a program detecting early signs of depression among students, following the spate of student suicides.

The administration lawmaker said there has to be a mandatory and regular psychological assessment of students, especially those belonging to graduating classes or poor families.

“There has to be a psychological assessment program which should elicit the cooperation of all students, teachers, parents and school officials. Perhaps the use of a specially designed question and answer form to be answered by all students, teachers and parents,” Nograles said.

“Who knows, maybe a parent or a student would be able to provide observations and other facts relative to a student-friend which could, in fact, help prevent another suicide incident,” he added.

Nograles noted that most schools and colleges have in-house psychologists manning their student affairs office or medical clinics, “but there is no full-blown program that actually evaluates the psychological profile of every student.”

“It is really very disturbing to note the two incidents of students taking their own lives due to varying school problems. The educational sector should not wait for another addition to these grim statistics,” he added.