Hot weather could have triggered series of suicides

CEBU, Philippines - At least four cases of suicides have been reported in Cebu in the last six days, an occurrence that may have been possibly related to the effects of the country’s extremely hot weather this summer.

A psychologist explains that aside from depression as the common cause of suicides, there is also what they called “seasonal affective disorder” wherein the weather plays a role in human behavior, somehow triggering a person to commit suicide.

Ditas Orozco, head of the psychology department at Saint Theresa’s College, said that suicide is commonly caused by depression. It is a result of feelings of desperation and hopelessness.

“People who commit suicide have big problems. They think that the only way to solve their problems is by ending their lives,” she said.

But sometimes weather plays a role in human behavior, especially during hot season, wherein people tend to be highly irritable.

Weather experts recorded 33.2 degrees Celsius on May 02, 2011, considering it as the hottest day of the month. It is expected that temperature will rise to as high as 40 degrees Celsius between May and June.

Last Thursday, a high school student ended his life in sitio Bacay, Barangay Tulay, Minglanilla because of love problem.

17-year-old Junryl Guinocor, a third year high school student of Lipata Night High School, was found hanging by his younger brother inside their house.

In sitio Trinidad, Barangay Punta Princesa, Renaldo Pepito, 20, was also found hanging on a tree after he was allegedly reprimanded for stealing money from his mother.

On May 11, 2011 in Barangay San Nicolas, 29-year-old Nyrichie Niere was discovered by his father, Presco Niere, hanging lifeless on the beam of their warehouse.

Police said they found a suicide note at the scene. The note said the victim was depressed because he was not allowed by his parents to marry.

On May 10, 2011 in Barangay Colawin, Argao, 29-year-old Ivy Cope Montañez, teller of Rural Bank of Cebu South-Carcar branch, was also found hanging from a mango tree about 30 meters away from his house.

Reports had it that the victim has been worried because he had allegedly embezzled some P300,000 while he was still assigned as a bank teller in Bohol. (FREEMAN)