15-year-old girl hangs self

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A GRADE 10 student died of suicide afternoon of June 4, 2019 at La Paz, Iloilo City.

The 15-year old victim was found hanging in the living room of their house at Barangay Caingin. She used a blanket to hang her neck onto the ceiling.

She locked the door and closed the windows before taking her own life.

Family members had to forcibly open the door in order to reach her.

She was brought to West Visayas State University Medical Center where she was declared dead.

The girl’s mother claimed she had no idea what drove the victim to take her own life.

She said she saw nothing unusual with the teenager, whom she described as a jolly girl.

Another relative claimed that the victim texted her elder sister “I love you, Ne” around noon of the same day.

They had no inkling that she was going through some problems.

Even her cousins claimed the girl did not tell them or hinted that she was depressed over something.

The victim told her family that she would skip school on Tuesday but did not tell them why.

Police investigators are checking the victim’s mobile phone in a bid to get answers on why she committed suicide.

In May 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) launched the NCMH (National Center for Mental Health) CRISIS HOTLINE, a new crisis hotline for all who are undergoing any mental health crisis including suicide prevention, as provided for in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11036 otherwise known as Mental Health Act.

The new NCMH CRISIS HOTLINE, which operates 24/7, could be reached at 0917 899 8727 (USAP) and 989 8727 (USAP).

It was tasked to provide assistance to individuals with mental health conditions, especially individuals at risk of committing suicide.