No hope left

Last Saturday was World Suicide Prevention Day. This program was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999. People have a tendency to brush of the hidden problem of suicide. But statistics show that ten to twenty people attempt non-fatal suicides every year. One million people commit suicide every year. One suicide happens every 40 seconds. These clearly tell us that we must not take this disease for granted.

According to WHO, “In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60 percent worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide. Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.”

This global rate is quite alarming. And with the present conditions in our country of poverty, hunger, unemployment, etc. — the rates may continue to increase. If people feel hopeless, depression easily sets in and another life may be lost. By the way, corruption in the Philippines has also contributed to the increase of suicide rates committed by government people.

According to Mental Health America (MHA), “A suicide attempt is a clear indication that something is gravely wrong in a person’s life. No matter the race or age of the person; how rich or poor they are, it is true that most people who die by suicide have a mental or emotional disorder. The most common underlying disorder is depression, 30 percent to 70 percent of suicide victims suffer from major depression or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder.”

MHA lists the following warning signs of someone considering suicide: Verbal suicide threats such as, “You’d be better off without me” or “Maybe I won’t be around”; expressions of hopelessness and helplessness; previous suicide attempts; daring or risk-taking behavior; personality changes; depression; giving away prized possessions and lack of interest in future plans.

Depression is merely the transient inability of an individual to experience that most basic of human feeling: joy. Thus depressives live in a darkened world of apathy, loss of interest in things formerly enjoyed, a deep sense of guilt and even self-hate, uselessness and despair; despair so tormenting that they often kill themselves.

You may have a relative or a friend who is going through this ordeal. I suggest you read on as some information may come in handy… who knows?

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I was fortunate to catch a press launch of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF), which gave me a booster shot about many important points on depression and suicide. NGF is a dynamic NGO founded in the memory of Natasha Goulbourn who died as a result of this dreadful malady. The NGF together with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte held a plethora of events at QC’s Memorial Circle, University of the Philippines (Diliman), Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila last week.

Jeannie Goulbourn, Natasha’s mother, who chairs the foundation, sounded tentative in discussing the issue of funding the foundation’s programs but I could sense that NGF’s difficulty in getting support is Sisyphean, like trying to roll a rock up a hill. Still, she and her board of trustees plod on driven by the importance of spreading information about depression and suicide.

To have a keener appreciation of these conditions, one should know that being aware of depression is the first and most important step in managing or treating it and, as a consequence, reducing suicide incidence. This was a point introduced by Dr. Ricky Soler when he helped found the NGF four years ago.

Dr. Soler (a very close friend of my father) keynoted the activity with a brief but thorough presentation of the various issues concerned with what he referred to as the most disabling and the second most prevalent disease affecting mankind, noting that no less than 10 percent of our population suffers from depression and that as many as 15 percent of sufferers kill themselves. Contrary to politically peddled opinion surveys that Filipinos are a happy people, he noted that we suffer from depression more than any other people in SEA countries and that at least one Filipino commits suicide every day.

A WHO study, the Global School-based Student Health Survey showed that nearly 18 percent of Filipino high school students in the age bracket of 13 to 15 seriously considered attempting suicide during the year the study was prepared, with girls outnumbering boys by more than seven percent of the respondents. Note that 60 percent of those who ideate suicide end up actually killing themselves.

Depressives are highly prone to denial and ignorance. Given 90 depressives to consider, only 30 of them will admit they are depressed and seek help from mental health practitioners or from close friends they trust. The next 30 know they are depressed but fearing they will be stigmatized, teased, ridiculed or considered insane, they keep the condition to themselves and thus suffer in silence and denial. The remaining 30 suffer all the signs and symptoms of depression but do not know what they are experiencing and thus suffer in ignorance and unawareness.

This clearly shows the need for making people aware that depression is a disease just like diabetes. As such, it can be treated and managed. It is neither due to an inability to cope nor to a personal failing or weakness, and it is not insanity in any way and should therefore be considered with compassion and understanding rather than stigmatized.

While the problem seems to be a colossal one to solve, the NGF thinks otherwise. In his notes, Dr. Soler points out that, government agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, professional and civic groups such as the Philippine Psychiatric Association and Philippine Association of Psychologists and media can collaborate to help depressives and cut down suicide incidence in our country.

Our Pinoy culture dictates that it is best to sweep the truth under the carpet to save the family’s honor and name. Thus, most of the time, we are in denial. Our society must change in this respect. We must be more sensitive to the issues that affect our countrymen.

At the end of the day, knowing about depression and suicide is the first step. Paying attention to it is a second step. Knowing how to deal with it and where to go is the third step. This is not just another advocacy – it’s about saving lives!