The World Health Organization (WHO) observes every October 10 as World Mental Health Day as a means of raising awareness on mental health issues and mobilizing efforts to support mental health. This year, the observance takes a look at suicide and has taken up the theme of “40 seconds of action.”
According to WHO, “Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.”
For the Philippines, WHO data shows in 2011, the last year where the country’s suicide figures were recorded, there were a total of 2,449 suicide cases reported with men outnumbering women 1,879 to 570.
Data from the international organization also notes, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29 year olds with 79 percent of the world’s suicides occuring in low to middle-income countries.
Notably, MassKara Queen candidate Queenie Edessa E. Amarante lists mental health awareness as her advocacy, noting in her profile, “Our generation today is prone to stress and this can cause a lot of issues in school/work.”
“The worst case is that it can lead to suicide,” she noted. “Let us educate everyone that life is precious and having a healthy mind can help a lot to the community.”
She is currently in her second year at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, where she studies financial management./WDJ