Mark Villar says intervention on youth suicide crucial

Senator Mark Villar on Monday cited the need to legislate measures to address the increasing cases of suicide among the youth.

Hence, Villar filed Senate Bill 1669, or the Act to Provide Early Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Expansion, seeking to institutionalize the government's interventions in suicide problems in the country.

"Nakakabahala po ang mga kaso ng suicide sa ating mga kabataan recently. The increasing number of suicide and suicide attempts among Filipino youth merits our intervention as we recognize that the challenges and mental health concerns of our youth brought about by the pandemic has been heightened by the rapid changes of the post-pandemic world to which they are expected to adapt," he said.

SB 1669 is pushing for the formulation of life-planning education for Filipino youths.

The measure likewise aims to provide necessary training and awareness to concerned stakeholders within the school premises to effectively address psychological issues among students.

The bill also urged for the employment of psychologists in every school to provide early intervention to the school youth.

"Kailangan po nating matutukan ang kalagayan ng mental health ng ating mga kabataan, lalo na ngayon na dumarami ang kaso ng mga estudyante who are committing suicide," he stressed.

"Through this bill, we are going to provide our youth with the necessary intervening methods like counseling and mental health improvement sessions that will help them," he added.

Villar cited the recent alarming case of a 7th-grade high school student from Rizal Technological University who claimed his life by jumping off a school building.

The senator noted it is the second case a student from a similar academic institution has committed suicide. The first one was a college freshman who jumped from a mall's higher floor in 2016.

"I am going to do my best to pass this youth suicide prevention bill so we can help our youth deal with their mental health concerns and prevent further cases of suicide that will claim more lives," he said.

Currently, SB 1669 has been referred to the appropriate Senate committee and is just awaiting further legislative action.