Intervention for students who ‘heard’ voices urging suicide

CEBU, Philippines - The students from Daanbantayan National High School who reportedly heard voices telling them to commit suicide are made to undergo another stress debriefing.

Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the psychology department of University of San Carlos went to the houses of the nine students last Friday.

The students were reportedly traumatized upon learning the death of their classmates who reportedly ended their lives because of the teacher’s alleged refusal to sign their clearance.

Personnel of the Provincial Council of the Welfare of Children (PCWC) had gone to the town right after receiving reports of the students’ situation.

Rose Jao, assistant provincial social welfare officer, said three out of nine students said they heard voices telling them to commit suicide. She added that the students were at first shaky when they talked to them.

“Nahinabi namo ang mga bata, ang tulo ka lalaki niingon sa amoa nga makadungog kuno sila og pirmi maghughong sa ilaha nga maghikog pud,” Jao said.

She added that the students are all classmates and are from one section.

The Department of Education is also conducting investigation into the incident.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, co-chairperson of PCWC, said the mother of the boy who committed suicide is seeking justice for her son’s death.

“We are still waiting for the investigation of the DepEd. Kung motawag na sila mag-meeting mi sa PCWC, among i-invite and DepEd division Superintendent, Dr. Arden Monisit, ug ang mga teachers,” Magpale said.

On Monday, a 15-year-old girl was found dead hanging inside her room while her 15-year-old male cousin was also found hanging from a tree the following day. —/JMO (FREEMAN)