Boy, 17, hangs self in La Paz

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

Editor’s note: The Department of Health has established suicide prevention hotlines in the country. For those who need help, counsellors are available at 0917-899-8727 (USAP) and 0917-989-8727 (USAP). You also can call 321-5160/ 321-2841 local 186 (Western Visayas Medical Center); 320-2431 (West Visayas University Medical Center); and the hotlines DOH Adolescent Health CONNECT: 09985324047 (Smart), 09177759256 (Globe), and 09255469919 (Sun).

 

Three days after establishing a center in La Paz Iloilo City to cater to persons dealing with depression and anxiety, another suicide case has been reported.

Nonoy, a 17-year old Grade 12 student, allegedly committed suicide inside his room.

Police Major Mark Evan Salvo, La Paz police chief, said they learned of the incident around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Nonoy’s family rushed him to West Visayas State University Medical Center but he was declared dead shortly later.

Salvo said they found no signs of foul play in the victim’s death.

“There was no forcible entry. Nothing went missing in the house,” he said.

According to Gloria, Nonoy’s mother, she left home around 9:45 p.m. Monday for her 10 p.m. – 12 midnight duty as barangay tanod.

She told her son to go to sleep as he looked haggard and pale.

On the other side of Nonoy’s room were his siblings aged 9 and 3 years old.

Gloria immediately went home after her duty.

But when she checked on her son, Nonoy was already hanging by the ceiling.

She immediately called on her other child to get a knife and cut the rope while she held him.

At that time, Nonoy still had a heartbeat.

Gloria said she performed cardio-pulmonary and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her son.

“He even bit the spoon we placed in his mouth,” she said.

When she could not revive him, she told her other child to ask for help.

Four youngsters who were talking outside came in to help and brought the victim to the hospital.

One of them claimed the teenager still had a pulse.

Doctors allegedly tried to revive him. Gloria said she implored them to use the defibrillator.

But the doctors told her they did everything they could to save Nonoy’s life.

“It’s as if he has given up his will to live. I saw that it’s as if he refused to fight for his life,” Gloria said in the vernacular.

 

‘I WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU’

While waiting for help to come in, Gloria said she kept on talking to Nonoy.

“I promise that I would take care of him,” she said.

Engulfed in fear and hopelessness, “Nahambalan ko sya nga indi ko ni kaya magbantay sa iya mga manghod kung indi nya ko pagbuligan,” she said.

Gloria said Nonoy helped her raise his siblings after his father left them.

As to what drove Nonoy to take his own life is still a puzzle to Gloria as he did not leave a suicide note.

Earlier on Monday, Gloria said Nonoy looked sad but she still greeted him happy birthday.

There were also talks that he had a fight with his girlfriend after the latter’s family saw him smoking,

But whatever it is, “I just don’t want this thing to happen to anyone.”

Gloria asked every parent to make time for their children and make them feel loved every day.

 

HELP CENTER

On November 2, the Iloilo City Police Office launched the Center for Community Health Education Counseling in La Paz district.

It will serve as a venue for those who are having anxiety and depression problems and teenage pregnancy concerns

Located at Veggie Delight Resto in La Paz district, the center is seen as a big help to the people of Iloilo City, especially the young ones who are deemed emotionally and mentally-disturbed.