“When he was asked how a simple student could help transform a community to a gentler and tolerant one, Jong-Ki simply replied — Be kind.

Worldwide, suicide rates have been increasing. In this millennium, one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide. There are more deaths from suicide than those from war and homicide combined. The more alarming news is that suicide, due to depression or hopelessness, is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 25-year olds.

Here in the Philippines, a reported 3.3 million Filipinos suffer from depressive disorders, with suicide rates in 2.5 males and 1.7 females per 100,000. Worried over the number of suicides committed by young Filipinos, our health officials have urged the public to understand and be more aware of the condition of persons with mental health issues.

Regrettably, Filipinos still have a low level of awareness of mental health issues. Only a few would dare discuss mental health problems openly or even acknowledge grappling with depression, low self-esteem or apathy. The suicides of celebrities like comedian Robin Williams, chef Anthony Bourdain and designer Kate Spade brought worldwide focus on mental health issues and lack of awareness of even close family members over the symptoms.

Awareness is key. Education programs and other initiatives to create awareness among the general public are all the more critical, in light of the jaw-dropping suicide statistics revealed by the World Health Organization (WHO). More importantly, this tragic loss of lives is preventable, and all countries have been exhorted by WHO “to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programs in a sustainable way.”

Perhaps, in acknowledgment of the escalating deaths among Asian youths, the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation (RMF) awarded Kim Jong-Ki for his work on preventing suicides in South Korea.

Jong-Ki lost his 16-year old son Daehyun to suicide due to severe school bullying — a common occurrence in Korea. One could barely imagine what hellish environment would so push a teen to horribly end a life brimming with potential.

Jong-ki was cited by the RMF for “his quiet courage in transforming private grief into a mission to protect Korea’s youth from the scourge of bullying and violence, his unstinting dedication to the goal of instilling among the young the values of self-esteem, tolerance, and mutual respect, and his effectively mobilizing all sectors of the country in a nationwide drive that has transformed both policy and behaviors towards building a gentler, non-violent society.”

Jong-ki’s efforts in addressing school violence as a systemic social problem affecting students, families, school and the community, filled a gaping hole in South Korean policies. School bullying and teenage violence were not considered life-threatening problems, and reported incidents were treated as part of schoolboys’ hijinks.

When he was asked how a simple student could help transform a community to a gentler and tolerant one, Jong-Ki simply replied — “Be kind.”

Kindness is free to give, but so precious to receive. So, if you can do or be but one thing in this life, be kind. It may be a smile or an encouraging word… simple acts that are easy to do. But the impact on the recipient is immeasurable and beyond estimation, especially in this world where kindness has become a rarity.