Are our young students copying the growing campus violence in the United States or the suicides in other countries? Obviously, this is an aftershock of the pandemic, which brought economic misery and learning poverty to most. But counseling must be provided by the state, especially for children in public schools.
The death of a senior high school student on Monday inside the campus of the University of the East in Caloocan City, from apparent suicide, has brought mourning in the campus and prompted a legislator to ask the Department of Social Welfare to reach out to the bereaved family of the student.
UE President and Chief Academic Officer Zosimo Battad confirmed that a student had been rushed to Manila Central University Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
“While the student was in the hospital, UE quickly undertook investigations internally and in cooperation with the Philippine National Police’s Caloocan officers until early this afternoon, with the investigation results clearly showing the absence of any foul play or disregard by any other individual,” said Battad.
While the entire UE community is now in mourning, Battad requested the public to respect his family’s privacy and not share “unfounded information about the student and his untimely demise.”
The UE administration then assured the deceased’s family that they would have their full support and reminded all students, regardless of campus or year level, that they could approach the university for assistance at any time.
“Please always feel free to reach out and chat with someone, verbally or non-verbally, especially in times of difficulty and distress,” Battad said.
BHW Partylist Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, chair of the committee on welfare of children and a psychology alumna, cited in a statement the importance of counseling and seeking help from mental health professionals.
In my capacity as Chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children and as a Psychology alumna (ADMU Class of 2011), I express my deep condolences to the family and friends of the University of the East senior high school student who passed away under tragic circumstances on Monday. My condolences as well to the UE community, she said.
BHW Party-list is already in touch with the DSWD to reach out to the bereaved family and friends for counseling interventions needed to see assist them through this crisis in their lives. We are getting in touch with the bereaved family to extend to them the appropriate assistance we can extend.
This tragedy, similar tragedies, and the incidents of assaults involving children and students in conflict with the law require targeted responses and preventive solutions.
More and more young Filipinos and even adults have, in recent times, been resorting to drastic tragic measures under the tremendous stress and strain of personal trials of emotional, social, and economic nature.
These situations entail more readily available solutions and accessible healing professionals such as guidance counselors, peer counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. At the community and campus levels, there is an urgent need to effectively implement the Mental Health Act or RA 11036 as more students return to their campuses for in-person face-to-face classes, after more than two years of isolation in their homes.
Tags: #suicide, #childrenincrisis, #schoolcampuses, #counseling