MANILA–Being wary about the warning signs just might be the key to save a loved one or family member from committing suicide, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.
“Suicide is preventable. It’s just a matter of really recognizing the signs and symptoms early enough,” Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle said in an interview in Quezon City.
Valle said it is important that family members are aware at all times if their loved one is prone to committing suicide.
“Almost 90 percent of suicides have warning signs that you must be aware of,” Valle added.
He said some of the warning signs include withdrawal from usual activity, choosing to isolate themselves, and showing lack of interest, among others.
Upon noticing these key warning signs, he said family members should not leave their “depressed” kin in such a condition and let them feel their presence.
He said showing empathy or by simply listening and avoiding to be judgmental is an important step to prevent or stop a person from taking his own life.
Meanwhile, he said it also important to understand that there are different reasons why people get depressed.
“Some can be due to feeling of failure especially if they are known to be top achievers, or experiencing family trouble, unmet expectations, etc.,” he said.
He also noted that there were also cases where depression is being link to chemical imbalance resulting from reduction in the amount of certain neuro-transmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine.
Serotonin is a hormone that affects the mood and general sense of well-being of a person, triggering anxiety or fear.
On the other hand, norepinephrine is a chemical released from the nervous system in response to stress.
Valle said for those experiencing depression, professional help can be accessed via HOPELINE at (632) 8044673, 09175584673, or 2919 toll-free for Globe and TM subscribers.
“We have this HOPELINE, which is like our distress phone line for mental illness, of which 20 percent of calls is about depression,” he said.
The hotline was put up by DOH, together with the World Health Organization, Globe Telecom, and Natasha Goulbourn Foundation. (Leilani Junio/PNA)
