Hotline launched for suicidal persons

MANILA, Philippines -- With the alarming growth rate of suicide cases in the Philippines, a hotline was launched for persons having suicidal tendencies.

The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF), which  authored a Training Manual and Handbook for the Information and Crisis Intervention Centers (ICICs),  has sought the assistance of local carrier Globe Telecom to set up a "Hopeline" to curb growing incidents of suicide.

NGF's handbook encourages people who are depressed or suicidal, or those who are related to them to quickly connect to qualified, trained and certified responders who will assist them through established protocols.

According to Rob Nazal, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility, the telco is leveraging on technology intrinsic to its business to do something about the alarming cases of suicides in the country.

"We want to drive public awareness on the availability of a Globe-provided hotline dedicated to assist and support callers in crisis due to depression or suicide issues as well as those who are not necessarily in immediate crisis but may need help to prevent it from occurring or escalating,” Nazal said.

The hopeline for ICIC is 0917-588-HOPE (4673) and a toll-free number 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers will be operational by late March.

At present, the Philippines has the highest incidence of depression in Southeast Asia with over 4.5 million cases reported in 2004.

Yet NGF said most of the depressed individuals  would rather suffer the symptoms than to seek help due to the stigma associated with the illness.

Last January 3, a 28-year old woman jumped onto the tracks of the Metro Rail Transit’s Shaw Boulevard station while a man was found hanging from the roof of his rented shanty three weeks later.

The following month, a 21-year old student was found dead in her bedroom after stabbing herself. And a car executive jumped off the 10th floor of his condominium unit in Makati City.

NGF said although the media are quick to report about such incidents, many cases of suicide in the country still go undetected due to lack of information and the shame that accompanies the act.