Teen hangs self after fight with girlfriend

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

The Department of Health has established suicide prevention hotlines in the country. For those who need help, they could call 0917-899-8727 (USAP) and 0917-989-8727 (USAP).

A broken-hearted teenage boy committed suicide Saturday in Guimbal, Iloilo.

The family of 19-year-old Bong (not his real name) believed that a fight with his girlfriend might have triggered the incident.

The victim’s father claimed that he heard Bong talking to his girlfriend over the phone.

The father did not knock on his son’s room thinking that it was one of those petty fights among young lovers.

After a while, Bong’s room went silent. The father later called Bong and asked the latter to look after his grandchild (whether the baby was the victim’s nephew or niece is unclear).

But Bong did not respond nor open his room.

When the father opened the room, he saw Bong hanging by his neck.

The victim was declared dead at the hospital.

Other than love problems, the father claimed he is not aware of any reason that his son will commit suicide.

He also claimed that Bong never attempted suicide in the past.

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man reportedly tried to kill himself 4:20 a.m. Sunday at the small market of Barangay Simon Ledesma, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Jun (real name withheld), a resident of the nearby Barangay Ma. Cristina, went to his store at the market.

He locked himself and then shot himself on the head with a caliber .22 handgun.

He remains in critical condition at West Visayas State University Medical Center.

Police Captain Eduardo Siacon, Jaro police chief, said financial problem might be the reason why Jun attempted to end his life.

Police recovered the firearm loaded with four ammunition pieces and a cartridge.

Since 2013, the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed every September 10 to promote awareness in a bid to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world.

In the Philippines, Republic Act 11036 (The Mental Health Law) was passed to address growing concerns on mental health and suicide incidents.

The law proposes a mental health policy that aims to enhance integrated mental health services, the promotion of mental health services, protection of people who use said services, and the establishment of a Philippine mental health council.