COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND SUICIDE INCIDENTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SUAL, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN FROM JANARY TO NOVEMBER 2020
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The coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its emergence in Asia late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica. We have now reached the tragic milestone of one million deaths, and the human family is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss.
But the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it’s also an unprecedent socio-economic crisis. Stressing every one of the country it touches, it has the potential to create devastating social, economic, and political effects that will leave deep and longstanding scars. Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no way of knowing when normality will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have empty hotels and deserted beaches. The International Lobour Organization estimates that 400 million jobs could be lost.
DOH and WHO promote holistic mental health wellness in light of World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2020 Joint News Release Manila. The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is jointly raising awareness on the importance of public mental health, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though the Philippines has consistently ranked in the Top 5 of a global optimism index, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has revealed a significant increase in monthly hotline calls regarding depression, with numbers rising from 80 calls pre-lockdown to nearly 400. The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), is jointly raising awareness on the importance of public mental health, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Globally, the most vulnerable population is those aged 15-29. Mental health-related deaths are also the second leading cause of facilities in this age group. These numbers illustrate the need for more conversations and programs that will break the stigma around mental health. Most times, Filipinos do not feel comfortable sharing their mental health challenges for fear of alienation or prejudice.
The importance of mental health initiatives is just as crucial as those for the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque. “Now more than ever, we need to promote holistic health, where we are caring for the body, the mind, and even the spirit.”
The DOH has launched a multi-sectoral approach for mental health with programs and interventions across a variety of settings (e.g. workplaces, schools, communities) aimed at high-risked groups. The commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day also calls attention to the plight of those who are undergoing severe forms of depression.
Another project is the development of a multi-sectoral National Suicide Prevention Strategy, which includes psychological services such as the NCMH’s Crisis Hotline “Kamusta Ka? Tara Usap Tayo,” launched on 2 May 2019. The hotline is available24/7 for prompt psychological first aid. The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsychServ) has also provided free counseling via telephone for front liners. RA 11036 or the (“Mental Health Act”) mandates the provision of comprehensive suicide prevention services encompassing crisis intervention, and a response strategy on a nationwide scale.
I know how difficult it has been for KABABAYAN enduring the setbacks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the quarantine to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. Many people haven’t been able to work r have lost their jobs, some may have had difficulty going back to their home provinces or are impacted by the loss of loved ones or are separated from loved ones. This continues to be an especially stressful time. Someone in your community, workplace, family of circle of friends, or even you may be feeling hopeless, isolated, and feeling they have no reason to live,” said WHO Representative in the Philippines, Dr. Rabindra Abeyashinghe. We are not facing this alone. With compassion and understanding for others, we can recognize the signs and educate ourselves how to access help. We all have critical role in preventing suicide by socially connecting with affected people and connecting people to mental health services or medical care.
In the Province of Pangasinan, particularly in the Municipality of Sual, most suicide attempts were done because of severe depression, traumatic stress, use of alcohol and illegal drugs, loss or fear of loss, hopelessness, belief that you’re a burden, social isolation and even losing their own mind. Unbelievable ad it may seem but this is reality.
Remember that you don’t need to find an answer, or even to completely understand why they feel the way they do. Listening to what they have to say will at least let them know you care are just some of the things that might be considered by person who might be in contact with people with suicidal tendencies.
DOH, together with WHO Philippines, calls for every Filipino to be more involved in the discussion around mental health. If you or someone you know may be experiencing feelings of sadness, don’t hesitate to talk about it. The first step to healing begins at home in an environment that encourages open conversation and seeking advice from medical professionals. Gone are the days where we are to shy or even ignore the topic on suicide. We should talk more openly and reduce the stigma that persist around mental illness.
The past months have been very difficult for many of us. As we transition into the new normal, let us enter it with an attitude of supportiveness and compassion. We need to be champions for positive change and total well-being.” Duque added.
Now let’s discuss briefly the area of our study which is SUAL; a coastal and 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan. The municipality has a land area of 130.16 square kilometers or 50.26 square miles which constitutes 2.39% of Pangasinan’s total area. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was 34, 149. This represented1.15% of the total population of Pangasinan province, or 0.68% of the overall population of the Ilocos Region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 262 inhabitants per square kilometer or 679 inhabitants per square mile.
According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the annual regular revenue of Sual for the fiscal year of 2016 was PHP216,238,426.90. the Philippines largest coal power plant, the 1200 megawatt Sual Power Station, is located in this municipality. It used to be owned by Mirant Services LLC.
The mayor of this municipality is Hon. Liseldo D.Q. Calugay, after a landslide victory, ending the 15-year reign of the Arcinue clan.
Sual, Pangasinan records 20 recoveries, 14 new cases for COVID-19. The Pangasinan Provincial Health office (PHO) has recorded 20 recoveries and 14 new confirmed cases for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Saturday and Sunday. Three female front-liners and a male who had a travel history to the National Capital Region are the newest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in this town, the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) confirmed.
In a radio interview, Governor Amado Espino III reminded Pangasinenses to remain vigilant against COVID-19 by strictly observing health protocols. “If positive cases increase, we are putting pressure on our hospitals. Most of our recent positive cases are front-liners, although out of almost 2,000 who were tested in our targeted mass testing, only a small percentage of them tested positive. We still need to be careful because the virus is contagious,” Espino said.
He added the provincial government is also attending to the health services of the province. “We are focused on COVID-19 but it is again flu season and there is also the threat of dengue, so we are working on the other health services being offered by the provincial government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Espino said the economic team of the province is discussing the possible augmentation to the LGUs and residents of the province.
“We are planning and studying it. Let us accompany that with prayers’” he said. (PNA)
Relating the pandemic to suicide cases it is just but crucial to learn about this because mindfulness and awareness are the bridge between reaction and conscious choice. We can do something! Gone are the days that we are afraid, timid or even mind other business and ignore the topic. We should talk more openly about suicide and reduce the stigma that persists around mental illness. You’ll be amazed that more men commit suicide than women, is it because their Machismo prevents them from sharing their problems?
The coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its emergence in Asia late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica. We have now reached the tragic milestone of one million deaths, and the human family is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss.
But the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it’s also an unprecedent socio-economic crisis. Stressing every one of the country it touches, it has the potential to create devastating social, economic, and political effects that will leave deep and longstanding scars. Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no way of knowing when normality will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have empty hotels and deserted beaches. The International Lobour Organization estimates that 400 million jobs could be lost.
DOH and WHO promote holistic mental health wellness in light of World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2020 Joint News Release Manila. The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is jointly raising awareness on the importance of public mental health, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though the Philippines has consistently ranked in the Top 5 of a global optimism index, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) has revealed a significant increase in monthly hotline calls regarding depression, with numbers rising from 80 calls pre-lockdown to nearly 400. The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), is jointly raising awareness on the importance of public mental health, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Globally, the most vulnerable population is those aged 15-29. Mental health-related deaths are also the second leading cause of facilities in this age group. These numbers illustrate the need for more conversations and programs that will break the stigma around mental health. Most times, Filipinos do not feel comfortable sharing their mental health challenges for fear of alienation or prejudice.
The importance of mental health initiatives is just as crucial as those for the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque. “Now more than ever, we need to promote holistic health, where we are caring for the body, the mind, and even the spirit.”
The DOH has launched a multi-sectoral approach for mental health with programs and interventions across a variety of settings (e.g. workplaces, schools, communities) aimed at high-risked groups. The commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day also calls attention to the plight of those who are undergoing severe forms of depression.
Another project is the development of a multi-sectoral National Suicide Prevention Strategy, which includes psychological services such as the NCMH’s Crisis Hotline “Kamusta Ka? Tara Usap Tayo,” launched on 2 May 2019. The hotline is available24/7 for prompt psychological first aid. The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsychServ) has also provided free counseling via telephone for front liners. RA 11036 or the (“Mental Health Act”) mandates the provision of comprehensive suicide prevention services encompassing crisis intervention, and a response strategy on a nationwide scale.
I know how difficult it has been for KABABAYAN enduring the setbacks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the quarantine to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. Many people haven’t been able to work r have lost their jobs, some may have had difficulty going back to their home provinces or are impacted by the loss of loved ones or are separated from loved ones. This continues to be an especially stressful time. Someone in your community, workplace, family of circle of friends, or even you may be feeling hopeless, isolated, and feeling they have no reason to live,” said WHO Representative in the Philippines, Dr. Rabindra Abeyashinghe. We are not facing this alone. With compassion and understanding for others, we can recognize the signs and educate ourselves how to access help. We all have critical role in preventing suicide by socially connecting with affected people and connecting people to mental health services or medical care.
In the Province of Pangasinan, particularly in the Municipality of Sual, most suicide attempts were done because of severe depression, traumatic stress, use of alcohol and illegal drugs, loss or fear of loss, hopelessness, belief that you’re a burden, social isolation and even losing their own mind. Unbelievable ad it may seem but this is reality.
Remember that you don’t need to find an answer, or even to completely understand why they feel the way they do. Listening to what they have to say will at least let them know you care are just some of the things that might be considered by person who might be in contact with people with suicidal tendencies.
DOH, together with WHO Philippines, calls for every Filipino to be more involved in the discussion around mental health. If you or someone you know may be experiencing feelings of sadness, don’t hesitate to talk about it. The first step to healing begins at home in an environment that encourages open conversation and seeking advice from medical professionals. Gone are the days where we are to shy or even ignore the topic on suicide. We should talk more openly and reduce the stigma that persist around mental illness.
The past months have been very difficult for many of us. As we transition into the new normal, let us enter it with an attitude of supportiveness and compassion. We need to be champions for positive change and total well-being.” Duque added.
Now let’s discuss briefly the area of our study which is SUAL; a coastal and 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan. The municipality has a land area of 130.16 square kilometers or 50.26 square miles which constitutes 2.39% of Pangasinan’s total area. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was 34, 149. This represented1.15% of the total population of Pangasinan province, or 0.68% of the overall population of the Ilocos Region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 262 inhabitants per square kilometer or 679 inhabitants per square mile.
According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the annual regular revenue of Sual for the fiscal year of 2016 was PHP216,238,426.90. the Philippines largest coal power plant, the 1200 megawatt Sual Power Station, is located in this municipality. It used to be owned by Mirant Services LLC.
The mayor of this municipality is Hon. Liseldo D.Q. Calugay, after a landslide victory, ending the 15-year reign of the Arcinue clan.
Sual, Pangasinan records 20 recoveries, 14 new cases for COVID-19. The Pangasinan Provincial Health office (PHO) has recorded 20 recoveries and 14 new confirmed cases for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Saturday and Sunday. Three female front-liners and a male who had a travel history to the National Capital Region are the newest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in this town, the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) confirmed.
In a radio interview, Governor Amado Espino III reminded Pangasinenses to remain vigilant against COVID-19 by strictly observing health protocols. “If positive cases increase, we are putting pressure on our hospitals. Most of our recent positive cases are front-liners, although out of almost 2,000 who were tested in our targeted mass testing, only a small percentage of them tested positive. We still need to be careful because the virus is contagious,” Espino said.
He added the provincial government is also attending to the health services of the province. “We are focused on COVID-19 but it is again flu season and there is also the threat of dengue, so we are working on the other health services being offered by the provincial government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Espino said the economic team of the province is discussing the possible augmentation to the LGUs and residents of the province.
“We are planning and studying it. Let us accompany that with prayers’” he said. (PNA)
Relating the pandemic to suicide cases it is just but crucial to learn about this because mindfulness and awareness are the bridge between reaction and conscious choice. We can do something! Gone are the days that we are afraid, timid or even mind other business and ignore the topic. We should talk more openly about suicide and reduce the stigma that persists around mental illness. You’ll be amazed that more men commit suicide than women, is it because their Machismo prevents them from sharing their problems?
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